The Supreme Court directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday to release Rs. 21 billion in funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the holding of elections for the Punjab Assembly 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 was 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, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also requested input from the AGP.
The hearing was attended by Special Secretary Finance Owais Manzoor Samra, Additional Secretary Finance Amar Mehmood, and Additional Secretary Finance Tanveer Butt.
The hearing was 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.
Govt statement on Releasing Funds
The government, in a statement to the SC, stated that to “issue any money from the Federal Consolidated Fund and/or create a charge thereon, an Act of Parliament is necessary”, however, the bill for the release of electoral funds was “rejected” by the National Assembly.
“Issuance of any monies from the Federal Consolidated Fund is subject to parliamentary approval, which has been denied to the federal government by the Parliament for the purposes of holding general elections to the Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assemblies”.
The statement continued that “as a consequence” the government was not authorized “under the Constitution to ask the State Bank of Pakistan” for funds.
To read our blog on “Before 2023 Punjab elections, ECP issues a code of conduct,” click here.