ISLAMABAD: Despite the Supreme Court’s orders, the National Assembly approved a summary sent by the Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue regarding non-provision of funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Earlier in the day, the NA committee, in a summary sent to the federal cabinet, recommended that funds amounting to Rs21 billion for holding the elections not be released. The cabinet, in turn, referred the matter to the National Assembly.
During the NA session, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the committee’s report, which was then approved by the lower house of parliament.
Addressing the media earlier today, Tarar said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had “no role” in releasing the funds, adding that it was the prerogative of the National Assembly and the Ministry of Finance and Revenue.
The Supreme Court on April 14 directed the central bank to release funds worth Rs21 billion for elections in Punjab and send an “appropriate communication” to this effect to the finance ministry by Monday (April 17).
A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, conducted an in-chamber hearing last week regarding the non-implementation of its April 4 order to the federal government and directed the central bank to release funds.
The directives came after the electoral body submitted a report informing the apex court that the Ministry of Finance has failed to release funds as ordered by the three-member bench on April 4.
