-State Bank informs Supreme Court funds for elections in Punjab allocated
but doesn’t have authority to release
-Law Minister says NA, Finance Ministry’s prerogative to issue funds
-SC had given SBP deadline of April 17
-PTI demands contempt proceedings against PM, Cabinet over hiatus in election funds
-Fawad Chaudhry slams govt over delay in poll funds despite SC’s orders
-Says no Parliament has authority to prevent people from voting
-Blames govt for non-serious attitude with regards to negotiation
By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Despite the Supreme Court’s orders, the National Assembly approved a motion sent by the Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue regarding the non-provision of funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Earlier in the day, the NA committee, in the motion sent to the federal cabinet, recommended that funds amounting to Rs21 billion for holding the elections not be released. The cabinet, in turn, referred the matter to the National Assembly.
During the NA session, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the committee’s report, which was then approved by the lower house of parliament.
Addressing the media earlier yesterday, Tarar said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had “no role” in releasing the funds, adding that it was the prerogative of the National Assembly and the Ministry of Finance and Revenue.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Tarar reiterated his earlier statement. He said the apex court’s decision to hold the election in Punjab on May 14 had been to “please one man”, apparently referring to former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan. He noted that the parliament had passed a resolution to hold election all over the country on the same day.
The Supreme Court on April 14 directed the central bank to release funds worth Rs21 billion for elections in Punjab and send an
“appropriate communication” to this effect to the finance ministry by Monday (April 17).
A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, conducted an in-chamber hearing last week regarding the non-implementation of its April 4 order to the federal government and directed the central bank to release funds.
The directives came after the electoral body submitted a report informing the apex court that the Ministry of Finance has failed to release funds as ordered by the three-member bench on April 4.
A special meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue was held earlier today in this regard, which decided to refer the matter to the federal cabinet.
At the outset of the meeting today, SBP Acting Governor Sima Kamil informed the NA panel the regulator has allocated Rs21 billion for the ECP to conduct polls in Punjab on the directives of the Supreme Court, however, it does not have the authority to release funds directly.
Law Minister Tarar informed the panel that the Ministry of Finance had already said that it does not have sufficient funds to hold elections in Punjab on May 14.
“Spending twice on elections is not in the country’s interest”, the law minister said, adding that the apex court had directed the central bank to arrange the funds. He maintained that the trustees of government funds are elected representatives of the people.
PML-N leader Barjees Tahir added that if the central bank releases funds directly to the electoral body it will be against the law. “How can the Supreme Court direct the SBP to release funds?” Tahir questioned, adding that if elections are held in Punjab separately it will affect the results of the general elections of the other three provinces later.
The central bank’s acting governor, addressing the criticism it received for allocating the funds, explained to the lawmakers that by allocating the funds the amount will remain in the account.
She further added that they appeared before the Supreme Court on its directive and informed the apex court that the central bank can allocate funds; however, it cannot release the funds.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Finance and Revenue Aisha Ghaus Pasha emphasised that the SBP cannot spend money without the permission of the parliament.
“If the National Assembly allows funds can be released [to the ECP],” she said, clarifying that even the Finance Division cannot spend without seeking permission from the cabinet and the lower house.
On the other hand, PTI on Monday demanded the SC to initiate contempt proceedings against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet for not releasing funds to ECP for the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa polls.
In a tweet, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said despite the apex court’s orders, SBP decision to not release funds is in violation of the laws. “The Supreme Court should initiate contempt of court proceedings against the prime minister and the Cabinet and fulfil their desire of getting disqualified through court orders,” the former information minister said.
“No parliament has the authority to prevent people from voting. Such a parliament can lay the foundation of a fascist government, but it cannot have anything to do with a democratic system,” he said.
The PTI’s senior leader said in line with the Constitution, the parliament does not have any prerogative over the election expenses.
In the tweets, the ex-information minister also mentioned that his party was focused on negotiations with the government, but the rulers were exhibiting a “non-serious” attitude in this regard.
Chaudhry added that the negotiations would be held in line with the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s orders, while noting that delaying the elections would be tantamount to subverting the Constitution.
PTI has formed a three-member committee and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has tasked two of its senior members to hold consultations with the opposition party amid the tense political situation after the Jamaat-e-Islami’s bid to bring both sides to the table.
