ISLAMABAD , April 17, 2023: Today is the last date for the State Bank (SBP) to release funds for holding elections in Punjab directly to the Election Commission (ECP) as ordered by the Supreme Court.
On the other hand, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance has summoned its special meeting today to review the orders of the Supreme Court to the SBP.
The apex court ordered the central bank to submit its report on April 18.
Earlier, the Ministry of Finance has informed the court that it is short of cash and cannot give Rs21 billion to the ECP for elections in Punjab.
The Supreme Court had also ordered the Ministry of Finance to submit the verification report of the Accountant General on April 18.
Meanwhile, the Standing Committee has directed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to attend the meeting. Committee Chairman Qaisar Ahmad Sheikh will preside over the meeting.
Law Minister Senator Azam Nazir Tarar, Trade Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, SBP Governor Jamil Ahmad and Auditor General Muhammad Ajmal Gondal have also been invited to attend the meeting.
It may be recalled that on April 12, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the attorney general, SBP governor, secretaries of finance and ECP for failure to provide funds to the ECP.
The Supreme Court, in its order on April 4, fixed May 14 as the date for the elections in Punjab and directed the federal government and institutions to support the ECP financially.