The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has submitted a detailed report on the matter of Punjab polls to the Supreme Court (SC), 24NewHD TV channel reported on Tuesday.
The commission's responsibility is not only to conduct elections but to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls, the report stated. Voters can exercise their right to vote freely without any fear, it said adding that the holding election on October 8 has been planned in the light of ground realities.
The report raised fears of fear of anarchy and chaos in the country, stating: “It is reiterated that the poll date of October 8, 2023, as announced earlier is in keeping with the ground realities and it is also believed that if this itinerary is not followed, it may lead to anarchy and chaos in the country, the responsibility of which the ECP cannot withstand.”
Unavailability of funds and force for law and order, holding elections on May 14 is becoming impossible, the court was told. The report said 466,000 personnel are required for security in Punjab and the caretaker setup is providing only 81,000 officials.
According to the report, the commission wrote to the federal government for the deployment of the Army, FC, and Rangers but no response was given.
“Today was the last date for payment of money for the printing of ballot papers, Election Commission is not responsible if it is not printed on time. Printing of electoral rolls with photographs is already delayed.”
ECP detailed report by Tahir Naseer on Scribd
The National Assembly yesterday rejected a motion seeking a supplementary sum of Rs21 billion for elections in Punjab.
Last week, the apex court had directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to “allocate and release” Rs21bn by April 17 (today) for elections in two provinces from the Federal Consolidated Fund (FCF) “lying under its control and management”.
It had also instructed the central bank to send an “appropriate communication” to this effect to the finance ministry in this regard.
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue at a meeting on the SC order regarding the disbursement of funds unanimously recommended the Finance Division that the matter of releasing funds be placed before the NA “in the form of a bill through the federal cabinet” in order to comply with the top court’s orders.
Later in the day, a meeting of the federal cabinet was held wherein the government decided that the summary sent by the finance ministry, based on the recommendations made by the NA body, would be referred back to Parliament.
“The federal cabinet has referred a summary by the finance ministry, based on recommendations made by the NA Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on providing the election commission with funds for elections in Punjab and KP, to Parliament,” a handout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said.