Supreme Court summons top officials for elections funds

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has summoned the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), the Finance Secretary, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and the Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over the government’s failure to release Rs21 billion to the polls supervisory authority in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The Supreme Court has summoned the officials to appear in the chief justice’s chamber on April 14 [tomorrow] in notices issued on Wednesday.

Hearing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petition against the ECP’s March 22 notification postponing elections in Punjab, a three-judge Supreme Court bench on April 4 ordered the government to provide the ECP with the necessary funds for elections by April 10 and the ECP to submit a compliance report to the SC by April 11.

The ECP had previously stated in its report to the Supreme Court that the government had failed to disburse the funds and was reluctant to provide the funds.

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In contrast, the government referred the matter to parliament.

The Supreme Court’s registrar noted in a notice issued on Wednesday that the ECP report stated that “no funds have been released or provided to it as required by the court’s order.”

It went on to say that the consequences for “breaching court orders” were clearly stated in the law.

“The federal government’s failure to comply with the court’s order as aforesaid is prima facie disobedience.” “The consequences of such prima facie defiance of the court are well established and well known,” it stated.

It went on to say that anyone who instigated disobedience or defied the court could face consequences.

The Supreme Court observed that the federal government’s “disobedience” would jeopardise the holding of timely elections as required by the Constitution.

“The issue of providing funds for such a vital constitutional purpose requires immediate attention, which takes precedence over proceeding against those who may have committed contempt of court,” the notice stated.

The SBP governor and his next most senior official were ordered by the court to bring all details of funds owned by the federal government that were with or under the control, custody, or management of the central bank.

“The said officials shall bring with them all the relevant record and shall place before the court a detailed report as to why the order of the court made in para 5 of Const. P. 5/2023 has not been complied with, as stated by the commission,” the notice stated.

Furthermore, the apex court directed the ECP secretary and electoral watchdog’s director general law to provide all the records related to the Punjab and K-P elections and prepare for the polls.

The ECP, in its report, informed the SC that it had not yet received the funds to be able to hold the elections in Punjab in order to meet the May 14 deadline set by the apex court. It added that it was facing difficulties in issuing the schedule for the polls because of the lack of funds.