ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Wednesday that the cost of conducting elections has increased from Rs 47.417 billion to Rs 61.805 billion, asking the Finance Ministry to release billions of rupees.
The Election Commission has written to the Ministry of Finance to release 14.388 billion rupees for holding the upcoming general elections and 20.544 billion rupees for the by-elections of the provincial assemblies of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 93 provincial assemblies in the current financial year. National Assembly.
“The Election Commission of Pakistan is constitutionally bound under the provisions of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with Section 219 of the Elections Act, 2017… In the emerging situation, the general elections of the Provincial Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). ) and the by-elections to the 93 vacant seats of the National Assembly under Article 224 (2) shall be conducted by the Election Commission of Pakistan within 90 days and 60 days respectively after the dissolution of the Provincial Assemblies and the resignation of the members of the National Assembly.
According to the letter, 25.44 billion rupees out of the approved 47.417 billion rupees in the current financial year need to be released for holding the provincial elections of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, while 5.00 billion rupees have already been released. The remaining amount of Rs.20.544 billion should be released as soon as possible.
“In view of the above facts, the total cost of the general elections has increased from Rs.47.417 billion to Rs.61.805 billion, therefore an additional TSG of Rs.14.388 billion will be required to hold general elections in the country in phases.he says.
Separately, the ECP has written to the governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) proposing to hold general elections in the two provinces between April 9 and April 17.
The commission suggested that the election exercise could be held between April 9 to 13 in Punjab and April 15 to 17 in KP, according to copies of letters available to this correspondent.
The letter states that the Punjab Provincial Assembly was dissolved on January 14 and Article 224 (2) of the Constitution states that in case of dissolution of the National Assembly or the Provincial Assembly, general elections shall be held for the Assembly. Within 90 days after the dissolution of the Assembly.
Article 224 (2) states: “When the National Assembly or the Provincial Assembly is dissolved, general elections to the Assembly shall be held within ninety days of the dissolution, and the results of the election shall not be declared thereafter. Fourteen days after the close of elections.
Under Article 105(3)(a) of the Constitution, the Governor is mandated to fix a date within ninety days from the date of dissolution for holding general elections to the Assembly. Under sub-section (1) of section 57 of the Elections Act, 2017, consultation with the ECP is required for fixing the polling date. The ECP has to announce the election program under sub-section 2 of section 57 of the Act within seven days of the announcement of the date of election.
In the case of Punjab, the 90-day period will start from January 14 and thus the polling day cannot be taken beyond April 13.
In a letter to Governor KPK, the ECP said that the Provincial Assembly was dissolved on January 18 and under Article 224 (2) of the Constitution.
The 90-day period will start from January 18 and the polling day cannot be taken beyond April 17. Similarly, as per Section 57 (2) of the Elections Act, 2017, there shall be at least 54 days for the completion of all the activities mentioned in the election programme. In order to facilitate smooth completion of all election activities, the ECP suggested that the date of polling should be fixed between April 15 and 17.
The election body requested the governor to give the polling date.
