Pakistan

SC informed of non-payment of funds by SBP in polls delay case

ECP, Finance Ministry and SBP submit reports as progress on Punjab elections drags on

Our Correspondent April 18, 2023

Police officers walk past the Supreme Court of Pakistan building, in Islamabad, Pakistan April 6, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Ministry of Finance and the central bank (SBP) on Tuesday, while complying with the Supreme Court's orders regarding the provision of funds for elections in Punjab, submitted their respective reports on the release of funds.

All reports have been sent to the apex court registrar's office and will be sent to the concerned judges in their chambers.

According to the communiqué issued by the electoral watchdog, the state bank has failed to transfer the court-mandated funds of Rs21 billion by April 17.

Meanwhile, the SBP has submitted its own account detailing the reasons behind its failure in releasing the amount.

The Finance Ministery, through the Attorney General's Office, has also submitted its report on the matter and included the details of the federal cabinet's decision to return the matter to the parliament.

Further, the ministry has also informed the apex court of the assistance provided to the SBP and the relevant legal aspects related to the transfer of funds.

Read PPP leader urges SC to summon PM, ministers over polls delay

It may be noted that the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue returned matters concerning funds for elections to the government on Monday (yesterday).

Funds were allocated by the SBP in compliance with court orders, only for the matter to be sent to the federal cabinet which later placed it before the National Assembly.

On the same day, the lower house rejected the government's motion to grant Rs21 billion to the federal government to meet the expenditure, other than charged, during the financial year ending June 30, 2023, in respect of the ECP.

In the backdrop of the ongoing conflict within the SC as well as a possible clash with Parliament, all eyes are on Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial as to how he, along with his like-minded judges, will ensure compliance with the judicial order to hold Punjab Assembly elections on May 14.