By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Monday put forward a money bill in the parliament to seek a nod on whether to release or not funds for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections, following a standoff between the government and the judiciary.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered elections in Punjab province on May 14, after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) delayed polls to October 8 due to security and funding reasons, which the apex court deemed unconstitutional.
The court instructed the government to release Rs21 billion to the ECP by April 10 to conduct the polls and demanded a report by April 11.
The coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rejected the verdict.
The government has also accused the three judges who delivered the verdict of being biased against the ruling coalition, leading to a constitutional crisis in a country already facing economic difficulties.
Minister Dar addressed the parliament, saying that it is the country’s constitutional responsibility to hold elections, but it is important to hold them simultaneously under caretaker governments.
He also contended that holding national elections on the same day would save money and ensure free, fair, and transparent polls.
“This will help save money and hold elections freely, fairly and in a transparent manner,” the minister stressed. “Under the Constitution of Pakistan, the sovereignty of parliament is a reality.”
He also dismissed the apex court judgment as a “minority verdict” and had urged the government not to implement it.
“The country’s economic, security and internal conditions demand that snap polls aren’t in the national interest,” the minister said.
The controversy arose when ex-PM Imran Khan’s party and its ally dissolved provincial assemblies in Punjab and KP in January to pressure the government to hold early national elections.
The bill states that the required funds for both provincial elections would be charged upon the Federal Consolidated Fund, which includes all government revenues, loans, and repayments.
The proposed law would stand repealed once elections are held in both provinces without holding general elections to the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies of Balochistan and Sindh.
The bill has been referred to the relevant standing committee for further consideration.
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