LAHORE: The federal cabinet met a “emergency” meeting on the weekly holiday. Its is to decide whether to fund the ECP for Punjab polls on May 14 or defy the Supreme Court.
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb told Dawn that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would lead the Lahore rally.
“Its agenda has not been circulated yet,” she claimed, but “significant decisions” may be made in the huddle.
Most cabinet members attend by video.
PPP opposes Sharifs’ removal of Chief Judge Umar Ata Bandial. Insiders suggest the party may reconsider supporting its senior coalition partner’s last-minute defiance of the supreme court’s Punjab polls order.
Moreover, A PML-N official told that the conference would discuss the release of funds for Punjab elections, President Dr. Arif Alvi’s return of the Supreme Court Bill. As well as Judge Athar Minallah’s judicial note in the elections case, which PML-N considers favourable.
He predicted the Sharifs would reject the CJP-led three-member bench’s May 14 election verdict.
He stated, “Be it Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz…all in one voice have rejected the three-bench verdict and the parliament is also standing behind the PML-stance.” The party was also unanimous. He said Sunday’s gathering would reveal no election funding.
Watch the SC on Monday.
“We don’t care,” he said, adding that PML-N needed a narrative for elections and their defiance will help develop one.
He added the meeting may explore more parliament measures to limit the apex court’s powers.
Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar earlier in the day did not hint that the government would grant cash to the ECP for Punjab polls.
“The Supreme Court ordered Rs21 billion for Punjab elections by April 10 from the federal government. “Of course, the finance ministry and the cabinet have an important responsibility in this regard, and I am a part of it,” he said, without specifying the amount his ministry will contribute by April 10.
Maryam Nawaz stated the party will accept disqualification. “The SC disqualified Nawaz Sharif and if it decides to issue a contempt notice to PM Shehbaz we don’t care as we rejected the three-member bench decision on Punjab polls which was 4/3,” she said.
