Pakistan Cabinet decides to take up Punjab election funds matter in the parliament

An emergency meeting of federal Cabinet on Sunday decided to take up in Parliament matter of providing funds to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding polls in politically crucial Punjab province on May 14 as directed by Supreme Court, according to a media report.

decision was taken after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired cabinet meeting on weekly holiday (Sunday) to deal with "current political and constitutional crises" in country, Express Tribune newspaper reported.

A three-member bench of apex court led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday fixed May 14 as new date for elections to Punjab Assembly, as it quashed Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision to extend polls date from April 10 to October 8.

Despite apex court’s order, federal cabinet opted for debating matter in Parliament before approving and issuing funds for provincial elections, paper said, citing its sources.

meeting also held legal consultations and discussed coalition government's strategy in view of apex court's verdict ordering elections in Punjab on May 14.

cabinet also deliberated on tabling Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 – which aims to curtail powers of Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu tice and constitute benches on his own – in joint session of Parliament for approval as President Dr Arif Alvi has returned it for reconsideration without signing it, paper said.

prime minister has summoned ar federal cabinet meeting on Monday at Parliament House in Islamab to discuss issue, it ded.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has separated itself from Sharifs’ demand that Chief Justice Umar Ata Ban­dial should step down. But, according to sources, party may review its stance at last minute on wher to support its senior coalition partner’s decision to reject apex court’s order on Punjab polls.

Earlier, a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) insider told Dawn newspaper that release of funds for Punjab elections, President Dr Arif Alvi’s decision to return Supreme Court Bill, and Justice Athar Minallah’s judicial te in case of election — which PML-N sees grossly in favour of its stance — would come under discussion during meeting.

He said Sharifs were in a complete mood to defy CJP-led three-member bench’s decision to hold elections in province on May 14 and re was secret in it.

“Be it Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz...all in one voice have rejected three-bench verdict and parliament is also standing behind PML-N’s stance,” he said and ded that party was also unanimous on this point.

Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar earlier also did t give any hint that government would be releasing funds to ECP for Punjab polls.

“ Supreme Court’s order for federal government is to give Rs 21 billion for elections in Punjab by April 10. Of course, finance ministry and cabinet have an important responsibility in this, and I am a part of it,” he said but did t indicate amount his ministry would release by April 10.

Dawn report showed that Maryam Nawaz declared that party was rey for disqualification.

“ SC h disqualified Nawaz Sharif and if it decides to issue a contempt tice to Prime Minister Shehbaz we don’t care as we have rejected three-member bench decision on Punjab polls which in fact was 4/3,” she h said.

rift between government and top judiciary is proof that Pakistan’s political and ecomic woes are t going to end any sooner and instability will continue to haunt country. PTI SH ZH ZH