[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday to release Rs21 billion in funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the holding of elections for the Punjab Assembly after the federal government failed to provide the sum by the deadline.
During an in-chamber hearing presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, the top court judges informed Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan that the court orders regarding the postponement of Punjab polls must be followed.
According to sources, the AGP presented the government’s position and was grilled. The judges expressed their displeasure over the non-disbursement of funds.
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Following Friday prayers, the Supreme Court will issue a formal order.
Prior to the hearing, the AGP met with officials from the finance ministry, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also requested consultation from the AGP.
The hearing was attended by Special Secretary Finance Owais Manzoor Samra, Additional Secretary Finance Amar Mehmood, and Additional Secretary Finance Tanveer Butt. The hearing was also attended by Acting Governor State Bank Seema Kamil, Deputy Governor State Bank Inayat Hussain Chaudhry, Director State Bank Qadir Baksh, and Protocol Officer State Bank Mohsin Afzal.
The ECP secretary, additional secretary, and Law ECP director general were also present.
Statement from the government
The government stated in a statement to the Supreme Court that “any money from the Federal Consolidated Fund and/or create a charge thereon requires an Act of Parliament,” but the bill to release electoral funds was “rejected” by the National Assembly.
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“Any monies issued from the Federal Consolidated Fund are subject to parliamentary approval, which the Parliament has denied to the federal government for the purposes of holding general elections to the Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assemblies.”
As a result, the government was not authorised “under the Constitution to ask the State Bank of Pakistan” for funds, according to the statement.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
