Prior to the Punjab election money hearing being delayed, the PM summons the AGP. CJ Bandial would preside over a three-member bench hearing where top officials were called to testify regarding election finances.
ISLAMABAD: Following the government’s refusal to disburse funding for provincial elections, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif summoned Attorney General Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan on Friday before the Supreme Court (SC) hearing.
The poll Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone elections in Punjab earlier this month was deemed “unconstitutional” by the top court, dealing a setback to the government’s attempts to postpone the provincial poll by blaming security concerns and the financial crisis.
The three-member panel, which was presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and included Justices Munib Akhtar and Ijazul Ahsan, also set the province’s election for May 14 and required the federal government to raise Rs 21 billion by April 30 for the purpose.
Later, in order to receive input from the parliament on this topic, the PM’s cabinet instructed the Ministry of Finance to draft a summary after consulting with the Ministry of Law.
After months of political and economic unrest, the National Assembly on Thursday decided against giving funding, disobeying SC directives and causing fresh conflict between the judiciary and the administration.
AGP and other key officials were called by the supreme court after the election watchdog told the SC that the government had missed the deadline of April 10 for the disbursement of the cash.
AGP Awan was at the SC building when PM Shehbaz called him today, and he didn’t come back till they had a meeting.
The AGP was open with the media, asking, “How can funds be released when the parliament has prohibited it?”
He had stated before the meeting that “the government has no authority to provide them because the parliament has blocked the release of funds.”
He added that he would elaborate on the government’s position during the hearing.
It should be emphasized that a three-member bench will preside over the hearing, which is slated to begin at 11am in CJ Bandial’s chamber.
