The Election Commission of Pakistan and the State Bank of Pakistan have submitted their reports to the Supreme Court following its orders regarding release of funds worth Rs21 billion for holding elections to the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it emerged on Tuesday.
A three member-bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandila comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar directed for release of funds in its April 4 orders.
The apex court had ordered the government to provide Rs21bn to the ECP to conduct elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by April 10, and directed the ECP to provide a report on whether or not the government complied with the order on April 11.
The issue for release of funds, however, was referred to the Parliament which rejected the bill for the purpose.
The ECP also informed the court about non-provision of the funds for the elections from the Federal Government.
The apex court then ordered the central bank to release funds worth Rs21bn for elections from from Account No I — a principal component of the Federal Consolidated Fund worth Rs1.39 trillion — and send an “appropriate communication” to this effect to the finance ministry by April 17.
The SBP, while following the orders, allocated the funds and sought the finance ministry’s approval for release of the amount.
An approval of government is required to release the amount from the FCF while the government has to get the National Assembly’s approval for its release.
But the same day, the coalition government managed through the NA the rejection of its own demand for provision of Rs21bn as a supplementary grant to the ECP for holding polls in the two provinces.
Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf put the motion before the house for a voice vote after it was moved by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on behalf of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar through a supplementary agenda.
