ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to release funds for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ARY News reported citing sources.
According to sources, the supreme court ordered to release of Rs 21 billion for the elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The hearing on the Punjab and KP elections by the three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan was concluded.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials have submitted the complete record to the court and the officials from the finance ministry and State Bank briefed the court on the economic situation and election funds.
Source said that the judges made it clear that the court orders must be implemented, the Attorney General had to face the tough question on the stance of the government.
The Attorney General of Pakistan was in the chamber during the hearing.
Read more: FUNDS FOR ELECTIONS STILL NOT RECEIVED, ECP TELLS COURT
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) told the court in a letter that they still did not receive the funds to conduct Punjab elections.
The report mentioned lack of funds and security for conducting elections in Punjab. The ECP informed the top court that they didn’t receive Rs21 billion yet.
Punjab election schedule
The Election Commission of Pakistan announced the schedule for elections in Punjab — which are to be held on May 14.
According to the electoral watchdog (ECP) notification, the polling for the Punjab Assembly elections will be held on May 14, 2023. The ECP also withdrew its earlier schedule regarding the holding of general elections in Punjab in October.
As per the schedule, appeals can be filed against the decisions of Returning Officers regarding rejection or accepting nomination papers on April 10.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Supreme Court declared the ECP’s order ro postpone the provincial assembly elections until October 8 as “unconstitutional” and ordered the government to release Rs21 billion funds for elections in Punjab by April 10 and directed to conduct Punjab polls on May 14.
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