Islamabad (Web Desk): The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday ordered the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to release funds worth Rs21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for polls in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and send an “appropriate communication” to this effect to the finance ministry by Monday (April 17).
The three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar conducted an in-chamber hearing of the case.
Earlier, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Deputy Governor Sima Kamil, finance secretaries and officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in an in-chamber hearing on the government’s failure to disburse funds for elections in Punjab and KP.
The hearing was held in the chamber of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, with Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar in attendance.
On April 4, the court had directed the electoral body to hold elections in Punjab on May 14, and the federal government to provide funds amounting to Rs21 billion to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by April 10.
The court had directed the ECP to provide a report to the court on whether or not the government complied with the order on April 11.
The ECP, in a one-page report submitted earlier this week, informed the top court about the government’s reluctance to issue the amount needed for elections.
The government, meanwhile, had referred the matter to Parliament to decide.
On Thursday the parliament defied the SC order and refused to issue the elections funds.
Subsequently, the top court issued notices to the finance secretary, SBP governor, AGP Awan and the ECP, directing them to appear before the judges’ chamber on April 14 along with relevant reports.