LAHORE, May 24: The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the City District Government of Lahore to reimburse before the budget session the money spent by the Punjab University on a laptops distribution ceremony held on March 23 with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in the chair.

Earlier a law officer told the court that the expenses of the ceremony (Rs10.61 millions) would be paid to the university soon.

However, Justice Umar Ata Bandial directed him to ensure the payment before the upcoming budget session. The judge remarked that funds of students could not be used for political purposes.

The judge was hearing a petition against the PU vice-chancellor for arranging the function allegedly to please the chief
minister and his brother Nawaz Sharif.

The petitioner alleged that the VC for the satisfaction of the chief minister allocated Rs30 million for the ceremony and spent Rs5.8 million on refreshment alone.

He said there were apprehensions that a huge amount allocated for the laptops distribution function would be embezzled by the vice chancellor.

He urged the court to declare the impugned act of the respondent a clear wastage of public as well as student money. The court will now resume hearing after the budget session.