ISLAMABAD: A three-judge panel of the Supreme Court directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday to allocate and disburse Rs21 billion from its reserves to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for conducting elections in Punjab and KP assemblies.
The panel, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and including Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar, held an in-chamber hearing regarding the government’s failure to implement its April 4 order to release the funds.
In response to the summons, SBP Deputy Governor Sima Kamil, special secretary finance, additional secretary finance, ECP secretary, and Attorney General Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan appeared before the bench.
During the hearing, the judges reportedly expressed frustration over the non-compliance with the court orders and informed the government that the orders must be implemented.
Insiders said the Attorney General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, faced tough questions about the government’s position during the hearing.
According to the AGP, the federal government complied with the Supreme Court’s April 4 order and also introduced a bill in the National Assembly for the release of funds from the Federal Consolidated Funds.
However, AGP Awan explained that the government could not request the SBP to release the funds after parliament rejected the bill.
In a written order issued later, the bench noted that based on presentations by central bank and Finance Division officials, the ECP-required Rs21 billion could be disbursed “immediately and within a day.”
The court instructed the State Bank to promptly send “appropriate communication” to the Finance Division, which would then issue directions to the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) for the funds’ release. This process must be completed by the close of business on April 17.
The Rs21 billion will be immediately available and usable by the Election Commission for organizing general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.
The Supreme Court ordered the State Bank and Finance Division to submit separate reports on the order’s execution by April 18, and the ECP to confirm receipt of the funds.
In its April 4 directive, the Supreme Court had instructed the ECP to hold elections in Punjab on May 14 and the federal government to provide Rs21 billion to the ECP by April 10. However, the ECP reported to the court on Tuesday that the federal government had not yet supplied the necessary funds for the elections.
