ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court directed the SBP to release Rs21 billion in cash to the Election Commission of Pakistan. Said fund is for the holding of elections for the Punjab Assembly. This order came after the federal government failed to furnish the sum by the deadline.
During an in-chamber session presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, the top court judges instructed Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan that the court directives regarding the delay of Punjab polls must be obeyed.
According to sources, the AGP presented the government’s position and grilled. The judges expressed their displeasure about the non-disbursement of monies.
Following Friday prayers, the Supreme Court will give an official order.
Prior to the hearing, the AGP met with officials from the finance ministry. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also requested input from the AGP.
The hearing attended by Special Secretary Finance Owais Manzoor Samra. As well as Additional Secretary Finance Amar Mehmood, and Additional Secretary Finance Tanveer Butt were also there. The hearing 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 administration argued 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 “rejected” by the National Assembly.
“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 funding, according to the statement.
