ISLAMABAD: Government sources said on Saturday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is unlikely to receive funds for the elections by April 10.
The ECP spokesperson also confirmed that the institution has not yet received the funds. On the other hand, government sources say that there is no possibility of the ECP getting funds for the elections till April 10 as there is no meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee till April 10.
The Election Commission has requested Rs 21 billion from the government for the elections in Punjab and the Supreme Court has ordered the Finance Ministry to provide funds to the Election Commission by April 10.
On November 30, the Economic Coordination Committee approved the Election Commission’s demand of 15 billion out of 47 billion which was not for general elections. Earlier, the Supreme Court has pronounced the verdict in the case related to the delay in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections.
The Supreme Court ordered to hold elections in Punjab on May 14 and also annulled the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to postpone the elections on March 22 to October 28.
The Supreme Court directed the government to provide Rs 20 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan for conducting the elections. The decision was delivered by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial. Tight security arrangements have been made in the Supreme Court premises.
