By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The finance ministry said it released Rs17.4 billion to the country’s election commission, removing a hurdle for the national vote scheduled for February 8 amid security challenges.
The move came amid reports of a delay in the disbursement of funds and a request by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the deployment of armed forces and other law enforcement agencies at polling stations to ensure security.
The funds were part of the Rs42 billion allocated for the general elections in the current fiscal year’s budget, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The election commission had earlier received Rs10 billion rupees in July and had sought the remaining amount to conduct the polls.
Local media widely reported on Monday that the ECP had summoned the finance secretary over the delay in the release of the remaining amount.
“Finance Division has released Rs17.4 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan in addition to Rs10 billion released in July 2023 for the conduct of general elections in the country,” the ministry said in a statement on social media platform X.
It said the total amount disbursed to the ECP since July now totaled Rs27.4 billion.
“Finance Division remains committed to the provision of funds as and when required by the Election Commission of Pakistan.”
Pakistan has faced political turmoil since former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted in April 2022 and has seen a surge in militant attacks in recent months.
The disbursement came after the election commission asked the interior ministry to deploy the army and other law enforcement agencies at polling stations to ensure security, citing a shortage of police personnel across the country.
“Keeping in view, the deficiency of Police personnel indicated by the Provinces and the Federal Capital, the Election Commission of Pakistan has decided that in view of the clear shortfall of 277,558 personnel, the services of Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces (CAFs) shall have to be requisitioned in static mode in terms of Article 220 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan at the Polling Stations to ensure smooth elections,” election watchdog said in a letter to the interior ministry.
“This is all the more relevant in the context of fragile security cum law-and-order situation prevalent in the country.”
“While the ECP takes all necessary steps to organize an election in accordance with the Constitution and the relevant Election Laws, it also expects the same commitment from the executive authorities and law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order in the area of the constituency,” the letter said.
The election commission said it will announce the schedule for the vote in December and expects the polls to be free, fair, and transparent.
Analysts say the elections could bring some stability to the South Asian nation, which is struggling with a sluggish economy and a strained relationship with the U.S. over Afghanistan.
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