With the deadline for releasing funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) approaching today, the federal cabinet accepted a summary produced by the Ministry of Finance on Monday, which will now be forwarded to parliament.
The cabinet meeting, which lasted only a few minutes and was presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also resolved to refer the matter to parliament, stating that it was supreme and that whatever decision it made would be accepted.
Confirming the situation, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that the subject will be introduced in Parliament as a law titled Election Charge Expenditure Law 2023.
The cabinet had already considered in detail the Supreme Court’s April 4 decision on the delivery of Rs21 billion to the election board by April 10. (today).
According to the statement, the cabinet considered the National Assembly’s resolution from April 6 when deciding to refer the matter to Parliament.
The house asked the government not to carry out the three-member ruling, which ordered the ECP to hold the Punjab Assembly elections on May 14, calling it unconstitutional and against the law.
Instead, through the resolution, the National Assembly maintained that the majority verdict reached by four judges would be acceptable.
The federal cabinet asked the finance minister, who has postponed his travel to the United States, to write a report for the release of election funds for the guidance of Parliament on Sunday.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the cabinet of all legal and constitutional elements of the Supreme Court directions and the release of funds to the ECP at the meeting on Sunday.
“The future course of action will be decided tomorrow,” according to the statement.
Meanwhile, today (Monday) at 4 p.m., a joint session of Parliament will convene to discuss the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill, 2023, which President Arif Alvi returned without signing.
The cabinet also discussed the president’s acts, and they all agreed that he was not doing credit to his constitutional position.
The prime minister noticed that the president was acting like a PTI employee, pursuing the party’s interests.
