LAHORE, Jan 7: A local lawyer on Monday moved the Lahore High Court challenging the recent raise announced in the judicial allowance of superior courts judges.

The petitioner-lawyer said the caretaker government, having limited authority to watch day-to-day affairs of the country, was not competent to approve the said legislation of permanent nature.

The president of Pakistan, while amending Order 3 of 1997 on Jan 3, 2008, had enhanced the judicial allowance of Supreme Court judges from Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000 and that of the High Court judges from Rs 12,000 to Rs 40,000.

The lawyer said the amendment had been made at a time when the lawyers were struggling for the restoration of pre-Nov 3 judiciary. The petitioner further questioned the raised allowance comparing it with the miseries caused to the poor by the price-hike, loadshedding, deteriorating law and order situation and unemployment.

He said the government could not close its eyes to the plight of the people and grant a raise to the judicial officers alone. He asked the court to order recalling of the said order and stay its operation till a final decision on his petition. —Reporter