ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday voted against funding the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold polls. Polls are due in Punjab and KP by the Supreme Court’s May 14 deadline. This rejection further splited the judiciary and government after months of political and economic instability.
The government’s bill to settle a dispute over Rs21 billion payments for holding elections in the two provinces earlier this week unanimously rejected by both chambers’ finance committees.
On April 4, the Supreme court scheduled Punjab elections for May 14. As well as ordered the federal government to send election funds to the ECP by April 10 for both assemblies.
Instead of funding the commission, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar tabled the “Charged Sum for General Election (Provincial Assemblies of Punjab & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Bill 2023” to Parliament on Monday.
The top justice summoned finance authorities before his chamber on Friday to examine the cash, threatening consequences for noncompliance.
The Standing Committee on Finance chair submitted the Charged Sums for General Election (Provincial Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Bill, 2023 report by Syed Hussain Tariq. The committee advised against the bill.
After the committee advised against it, the house rejected Senator Ishaq Dar’s bill discussion motion.
The minister said only law could provide the finance division a Federal Consolidated Fund entrance or transfer amount. The standing committee urged against it.
PTI MNA Mohsin Leghari disagreed with Dar, claiming that Article 81 (b) covered the Supreme Court’s order, hence a new bill was unneeded.
“Article 81 does not allow general expenditure from the Federal Consolidated Fund. Thus the legislation is necessary for allocation of fund for the specific purpose”. Said Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.
NA & Senate both rejected the bill
The National Assembly and Senate finance standing committees recommended rejecting the bill in separate sittings on the same day.
The National Assembly considered both standing committees’ recommendations, which indicate the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will try to prevent Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly elections.
PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz rejected the bill because it was unlawful.
The other legislators opposed the bill because the country cannot afford Punjab elections alone and the government cannot budget for Rs21 billion in election expenses due to the deepening economic crisis.
Standing committee meetings began a day early. Three governing alliance committee members told The Express Tribune under anonymity that the Prime Minister’s Office and their parties invited them to attend the early morning sessions and vote against the Bill.
Dr. Aisha Pasha, Minister of State for Finance, said ECP payments beyond Rs5 billion will stretch financial goals.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s absence made PML-N NA standing committee on Finance chairman Qasier Ahmed Sheikh unwilling to examine the bill. Ishaq Dar’s absence prompted his resignation.
“We are bound to follow party instructions and it is not the day to link the approval or rejection of the bill with Ishaq Dar’s appearance,” said PML-N MNA Ali Pervaiz.
Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) MNA Khalid Magsi said holding polls in Punjab alone will send negative signals to smaller federating units.
