ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to several officials including the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) and the Finance Secretary for the delay in release of funds for holding the Punjab Assembly elections.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial, directed the Election Commission to hold elections in Punjab on May 14 and the federal government to provide Rs 21 billion funds to the ECP by April. Who was 10.
However, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) submitted a report to the Supreme Court on Tuesday stating that the federal government had not provided funds for the elections.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court directed the AGP, Secretary Finance, Secretary ECP, Director General (Law) of ECP and Governor of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to appear in chambers on April 14 at 11 am. Vali issued notices to appear for the hearing.
The notice said non-disbursement of funds for holding elections was “fundamental disobedience”. “The consequences of such a prima facie violation of the court are well settled and known.
“Any person who initiates, encourages or incites contempt of court may be held responsible and liable.”
The notice said that provision of funds for holding elections was a more important matter than pursuing contempt of court cases.
In the notice, the head of the State Bank was directed to appear at the hearing with a record of all the resources at the disposal of the central bank. The court also directed the finance secretary to come to the court with the records.
The ECP secretary was also asked to bring all the records related to the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly elections.
The government on Monday introduced a bill to approve funds for elections in both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the decision of the federal cabinet, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar while presenting the money bill said that the government is placing the bill before the House in the light of the Supreme Court’s order to release 21 billion rupees to the ECP for conducting general elections. Two provinces
The Finance Minister said that the Federal Cabinet in its recent meeting considered the orders of the Supreme Court and taking into consideration the resolution of the House, the will of the Parliament to take the final decision regarding the allocation of funds for the general elections of Punjab and KP. asked for
The move came after the Supreme Court nullified the ECP’s decision on the Punjab and KP elections, while ordering it to hold snap elections – a persistent demand of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). (TI) was forced after its dissolution by Chairman Imran Khan. Assemblies of both provinces
The Supreme Court had given May 14 as the date for the elections in Punjab. However, the decision, which was supposed to be a way out of the ongoing political and constitutional crisis, deepened it as the government rejected the Supreme Court ruling.
Apart from the money bill, the government also insists on holding simultaneous elections across the country.
