ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that it is against their oath for anyone who holds public office, including politicians, to have their photos placed on official documents related to government projects.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa penned a five-page ruling while contesting the affixing of the portrait of Chief Minister Chaudhary Pervez Elahi on the certificates of properties located in a Rawalpindi katchi kbadi.
As per the judgment, it is not permitted to attach one’s own photo to a public or government document since doing so would go against one’s oath of office.
The ruling further stated that since doing so reflects personal interest, it is therefore not acceptable to advance or honor oneself through subordinates, political allies, or in a way that could need favors in return.
Furthermore, Justice Isa remarked that Politicians, constitutional officials, and paid state employees were not permitted to utilize their positions for partisan, personal, or financial benefit.
He also added that self-glorification occurs when someone names a public or government place or property after themselves or has their name printed on a public or government document, adding that it iss considered obedience, flattery, nepotism, and/or corruption.
Justice Isa remarked, “Nothing precluded Pervez Elahi from distributing his own property if he desired to benefit the homeless, and if he did so, he would be free to include his picture on the title documents. Self-projection on public documents at the cost of the public is prohibited.”
In addition, the court ruled that Pakistan was neither a monarchy, principality, or fiefdom where the public must bow to its rulers.
