SC orders SBP to release funds for polls

Islamabad: Supreme Court of Pakistan Friday ordered State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor to release funds directly to the Election Commission of Pakistan for the elections in Punjab, GNN reported.

According to details, the three-member bench in-chamber hearing is going on under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umer Atta Bandial with Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar on the issue to release funds for elections in Punjab.

Special Secretary Finance, Additional Secretary Finance, Attorney General, Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Ministry of Finance and State Bank officials appeared before the three-member bench in the chamber.

Reportedly, officers accompanying the Acting Governor State Bank, Special and Additional Secretary of the Finance Ministry and other officials were sent out of the chamber during the hearing.

While Attorney General, Secretary and Director General Law Election Commission remained present in the hearing.

It is stated that the judges expressed their indignation for not releasing the funds for the election and made it clear that the court order will have to be followed. During the hearing, the Attorney General had to face tough questions for presenting the government's position.

To which Attorney General said that the federal government has implemented the April 4 order of the Supreme Court.

Following the Supreme Court order, the bill for the money from the federal consolidated funds was submitted to the parliament. However, it was rejected by the parliament.

The government cannot ask the State Bank to release funds after bill rejection by the Parliament.