Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday tabled a bill in the National Assembly seeking the release of funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan for holding elections in Punjab as ordered by the Supreme Court.
Ishaq Dar introduced the money bill 2023 titled “Charged Sums for General Elections of Provincial Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bill 2023 in the National Assembly.
Speaking on this occasion, he said the government is laying this bill before the House in light of the Supreme Court’s orders to release 21 billion rupees to the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Finance Minister said this august House had also passed a resolution that apex court’s order into the suo-motu notice regarding holding elections in Punjab is a decision of 4-3 and the judgment of 3-0 is a minority decision and that should not be implemented.
He said that the Federal Cabinet, in its recent meeting, pondered over the Supreme Court’s orders and in view of this House’s resolution, has sought will of the Parliament to take a final decision regarding allocation of funds for general elections for the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The chair referred the bill to the standing committee concerned. The Finance Minister said the coalition government fully believes in the supremacy of the Parliament and rule of law and the Constitution.
He said, while on the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, under a well thought out conspiracy, attempted to create a constitutional and legal crisis in the country.
He said PTI members resigned from the National Assembly and disrespected the public mandate. Besides, it organized dissolution of the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa even before the completion of their constitutional tenure.
He said the sole purpose of all these tactics was to create political instability and lawlessness in Pakistan.
