ISLAMABAD, MAR 12 (DNA) – Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar has observed that the Supreme Court will ensure fair and free elections.

He said the judiciary will shift all bureaucracy from one province to another before the elections.

Noting the expenditure of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (K-P) government on advertisements, he said the K-P government has spent Rs1.63 billion on media advertisements in the last five years.

The K-P government has also spent Rs20.4 million in last three months.

The three-judge bench headed by CJP has sought affidavit from secretary information K-P that photos of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan were not used in media advertisements.

The bench has sought suggestions from federal and provincial governments All Pakistan Newspapers Society and Pakistan Broadcasters Association regarding the publishing of media ads.

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The information secretary of K-P in response said, “Rs1.64 billion were given between 1st January and 28th February”.

CJP asked if they could state this on oath that the advertisement did not promote provincial government in any sense? Imran Khan appears in an ad which says ‘people’s dream have been fulfilled’, he added saying.

“Action will be taken if any misstatement is seen and the K-P government will be personally responsible for any misstatement,” CJP said.

He added saying that the court has many sources of information and it has sought details of all ads published in print and electronic media during the past one year. The court has ordered information secretary to take oath that pictures of PTI chairman and KPK’s CM were not published.

CJP said no political campaigns will be accepted and if the government wants to publish an ad they should use their personal funds.

‘Use your personal funds if you want to promote yourself. We have to decide about the ones from whom the money is to be recovered,” he said.

Our print and electronic media people have not received salaries for the past three months, he noted.

The Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif had promised to deposit Rs55 million, Chief Justice said.

Over advertisements in Sindh, CJP said that “Benazir Bhutto Shaheed’s picture should not appear. Bilawal Bhutto and CM Sindh’s picture should also not appear. Benazir is a martyr and she is respectable to us.”

Recommendations sought from the respondents tomorrow