LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday directed the federaland provincial governments to withdraw by 12 midnight vehicles being used by the ministers and officers beyond their entitlement.

A three-judge bench headed by the chief justice was hearing a suo motu case against the utilisation of luxury vehicles by federal/provincial ministers and government of ficers beyond their entitlement.

Additional attorney general Nayyar Abbas Rizvi presented a report regarding the luxury vehicles being used by members of the federal cabinet and departments of thefederation. He said a total of 105 such vehicles were in the use of the federal government and the cabinet. He said under the law ministers or officers could not use a vehicle above 1800cc.

He pointed out that JUI-F leader MNA Maulana Fazlur Rehman had one land cruiser and three double cabin cars while federal ministers Abid Sher Ali and Kamran Michael had been using Mercedes Benz.

The law officer further stated that attorney general Ashtar Ausaf and opposition leader in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah had been using bullet proof cars.

Chief Justice Nisar questioned the use of luxury vehicle by former federal law minister Zahid Hamid and summoned him on next hearing for an explanation.

The chief justice observed that the court could also summon other ministers and officers for using vehicles beyond their entitlement.

He said directors of public sector companies` boards would also betaken to task for purchasing luxury vehicles in violation of law and the matter could be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

CJP Nisar directed Punjab chief secretary Zahid Saeed to ensure withdrawal of two additional vehicles from outgoing chief minister Shahbaz Sharif. He further directed the chief secretary to withdraw bullet proof vehicles from law minister Rana Sanaullah and other ministers after the dissolution of the assembly.

The chief justice observed that the court would not allow the use of bullet proof vehicles for upcoming election campaign. `Anyone needs bullet proof car, should buy it from personal pocket,` observed the chief justice.

The CJP also took notice of the security being enjoyed by Hamza and Salman, sons of Shahbaz Sharif, and directed a senior police officer to submit a report to this effect.

CJP Nisar observed that the security personnel still used to hang their clothing outside Judicial Colony residence of MNA Hamza Shahbaz disturbing the privacy of the neighbours.

DIG Abdul Rab told the bench that police had not provided any security to Hamza and Salman.

However, the chief justice said the court would get it checked on its own.

Meanwhile, Mr Rab stated that security had been withdrawn from 246 individuals while 114 persons were allowed security on the recommendations of a committee made by the apex court.

CJP Nisar observed that no one would get the security without entitlement unless recommended by the committee.

He directed the federal and provincial governments to immediately withdraw vehicles being in the use of the ministers and officers beyond the entitlement by 12 midnight (Thursday), when the assemblies would stand dissolved.

Following a directive by the Supreme Court, the Punjab government started retrieving luxury cars from the cabinet ministers, government officials and especially from the controversial public sector companies.

The companies have an estimated 32 such vehicles, an official said.

`We have asked all departments to return to the S&GAD all vehicles above their entitlement. The luxury vehicles are to be returned by midnight as we are to inform the court about their withdrawal on Friday morning,` the official said.

Sources said the transport pools of the private companies had already kept in possession the luxury vehicles they had bought over the years. They had been asked to send them to the Civil Secretariat.

They said three ministers were given luxury bullet proof vehicles and they too were being withdrawn. The ministers included law minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, counter terrorism minister Ayub Khan Gadhi and sports ministerJahangirKhanzada.

The retrieved vehicles would be parked in the Civil Secretariat and in the adjacent minister`s bloclc Officials said ministers, advisers and special assistant who were given official cars according to their entitlements could return the vehicles in 15 days according to the law. They had been duly informed of their responsibility to return the official cars upon the expiry of their term in office on Thursday, the officials said.