News Desk
Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan has upheld the annulment of a notification granting lifetime additional benefits to former Chief Secretaries of Balochistan. The court rejected the provincial government’s appeal and reaffirmed that such perks have no legal basis.
In a detailed four-page judgment authored by Justice Aamer Farooq, the court stated that any executive action taken in violation of the law is inherently invalid. It emphasized that neither retired Chief Secretaries nor their widows are entitled to lifetime benefits beyond what is defined under existing legal frameworks.
The ruling clarified that only the Finance Department has the authority to frame rules regarding salaries, pensions, and post-retirement benefits. It further noted that the Chief Minister, Finance Minister, or Chief Secretary cannot independently approve additional perks.
The court declared that the approval of extra benefits by the Balochistan Chief Minister was unlawful and unconstitutional. It stressed that under the Constitution, only those measures are permissible that are not restricted by law.
Earlier, the Balochistan High Court had also struck down these lifetime benefits. The provincial government’s appeal against that ruling has now been dismissed, solidifying the decision.
