[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]ISLAMABAD: Following the government’s failure to release funds for provincial elections, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif summoned Attorney General Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan to appear before the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone elections in Punjab as “unconstitutional,” dealing a blow to the government, which has been attempting to postpone the provincial election citing security concerns and the economic crisis.
The three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprised of Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, also set May 14 as the date for the province’s election and ordered the federal government to provide Rs 21 billion for the purpose by April 10.
Later, the Prime Minister’s cabinet directed the Ministry of Finance to prepare a summary in consultation with the Ministry of Law in order to obtain guidance from parliament on this matter.
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Following that, the National Assembly ruled on Thursday against providing funds, defying the Supreme Court’s orders and causing new friction between the judiciary and the government amid months of political and economic turmoil.
Notably, the development occurred after the Supreme Court summoned the AGP and other top officials after the electoral watchdog informed the court that the government had failed to meet the April 10 deadline for the release of funds.
Today, AGP Awan was at the SC when PM Shehbaz summoned him, and he returned only after meeting with the premier.
The AGP stated candidly to journalists, “How can funds be released when the parliament has prohibited it?”
Prior to the meeting, he stated that “the government has no authority to provide funds because the parliament has blocked their release.”
He also stated that he would argue the government’s case in greater detail during the hearing.
It should be noted that the hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. in CJ Bandial’s chamber, with a three-member bench presiding over the proceedings.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
