ISLAMABAD: The High Council will hear the matter of election delay in Punjab after parliament today (Friday). refused to approve the funds for the county polls.
A three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial had directed the electoral body to hold elections in Punjab on May 14, and the federal government to provide funds amounting to Rs 21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by April 10.
However, the ECP has one report to apex court on Tuesday stating that the federal government had not provided funds for the polls.
Subsequently, the apex court summoned the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), the Secretary of Finance, the Secretary of the ECP, the Director General of the ECP (Law) and the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to appear today for a hearing in the chamber.
PM is consulting with AGP
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with AGP Mansoor Usman Awan prior to the hearing in the case.
Speaking to the media before leaving for the meeting, AGP Awan said that the parliament had prevented the government from spending money for the elections.
The federal government has no right to spend money for elections. “[I] will present the government’s position at the chamber hearing,” said AGP Awan.
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