ISLAMABAD: Cabinet decided to take up in Parliament matter of providing funds to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa elections.

Decision was taken after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired Cabinet meeting to deal with "Current political and constitutional crises" in country.

وزیراعظم شہبازشریف کی زیرصدارت وفاقی کابینہ کا اجلاس

وزیراعظم شہبازشریف کی صدارت میں وفاقی کابینہ کا اجلاس اتوار کو وزیراعظم ہاﺅس میں منعقد ہوا جو دوگھنٹے تک جاری رہا pic.twitter.com/u5M3TxvAoL

— PMLN (@pmln_org) April 9, 2023

Supreme Court last week directed federal government to provide Rs 21 billion in funds by April 10 to ECP, directing electoral body to present report on issue by April 11. Verdict also said that Supreme Court will issue instructions to authorities concerned in case funds are not provided.  Despite the court's order, sources told Cabinet instead opted for debating matter in Parliament before approving and issuing funds for provincial elections. Huddle also held legal consultations and discussed coalition government's strategy in view of Supreme Court's April 4 verdict ordering elections in Punjab on May 14. Cabinet also deliberated on tabling Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 which aims to curtail powers of Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice and constitute benches on his own in joint session of Parliament for approval as President Dr Arif Alvi has returned it for reconsideration without signing it. In this regard, Prime Minister summoned another Cabinet meeting today at Parliament House. Moreover, Cabinet approved decisions taken by National Security Committee in its meeting. High-level huddle decided to launch comprehensive operation against terrorists, as country's civil and military leadership virtually issued charge-sheet against previous government and establishment for allowing banned TTP to regroup. Cabinet meeting took place as coalition government faces off with judiciary following Supreme Court's ruling that directed Election Commission of Pakistan to hold elections in Punjab on May 14.

Consultation on matters related to joint session of Parliament will come under discussion in meeting, they added. Cabinet, as per well-placed sources, will also decide its stance on providing funds to ECP for elections, while matters pertaining to legislation will also come under consideration. Ministers, who have joined Cabinet meeting from PM House, include Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Overseas Pakistanis Minister Sajid Toori, Housing Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay, State Minister Hashim Notezai, while Prime Minister’s advisor Ameer Muqam is also present in-person. Those attended online include Economic Affairs Minister Ayaz Sadiq and Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 10 2023

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