ISLAMABAD: With the deadline to release funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for Punjab polls ending today, speaker national assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf referred the Election Charge Expenditure Bill-2023 to the standing committee concerned.
The bill was tabled in the house by finance minister Ishaq Dar. The federal cabinet earlier in the day approved a finance ministry’s summary to refer to the parliament the matter of releasing funds for the Punjab Assembly elections as per the SC order.
The cabinet meeting that lasted a few minutes under the chair of PM Sharif observed that parliament was supreme and whatever decision it makes would be acceptable. Confirming the development, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the issue will be presented in the Parliament in the form of a bill — Election Charge Expenditure Bill 2023.
A day earlier, the cabinet discussed in detail the top court’s April 4 verdict on the release of Rs21 billion to the ECP by April 10 (today). The statement said the cabinet, while deciding to refer the issue to the Parliament, also kept in view the National Assembly’s April 6 resolution.
Through the resolution, the house has asked the government not to implement the decision taken by the three-member SC bench, which ordered the ECP to hold the Punjab Assembly elections on May 14. Instead, the NA, through the resolution, maintained the majority decision taken by four judges would be acceptable.
