ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday submitted a report to the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) regarding the provision of the required funds for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab assemblies’ elections.
The report, filed at the SC’s Registrar’s Office, reveals that the electoral watchdog had not received Rs21 billion for the elections in the two provinces as per the apex court’s directives.
During the last hearing before Eidul Fitr, the SC had directed ECP to submit a report on the provision of election funds. The top court had also directed political parties to hold negotiations on April 26 and come up with a response by April 27.
During Thursday’s hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan informed the court that the first contact between the government and the PTI was held on April 19, and it was agreed to hold a meeting on April 26. However, Federal Ministers Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Saad Rafique met PTI leader and former NA speaker Asad Qaiser who said he is not ‘authorised’ for talks.
KP, Punjab polls case hearing in SC
The SC adjourned the hearing, and the CJP remarked that the ‘appropriate’ verdict would be released in today’s hearing, and the SC would not give any timeline.
A three-member bench, led by the chief justice and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, had earlier declared the ECP’s decision to postpone the polls for the Punjab Assembly as “unconstitutional” and ordered it to hold polls in the province on May 14. The same bench had also ordered the SBP to directly issue Rs21 billion for the election and submit its report on April 18.
The non-receipt of funds by the ECP for the Punjab and KP Assembly elections is likely to cause concern and raise questions about the timely conduct of the polls in the two provinces. The ECP may be forced to take additional measures to secure the necessary funds to hold the elections in accordance with the directives of the apex court.
