ISLAMABAD: National Assembly’s (NA) standing committee on finance rejected bill seeking release of Rs 21 billion in funds for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections.

NA standing committee on finance presented report before Assembly session, presided over by NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, delineating rejection of release.

Session was adjourned till April 26. Money Bill (Charged Sum for General Elections to provincial assemblies of Punjab and KP) 2023, presented in Parliament stated that required funds for elections in Punjab and KP should be “Expenditure charged upon Federal Consolidated Fund”, which it said comprises all revenues received by federal government, all loans raised by that government and all money received by it in repayment of any loan.

Bill further stated that it should “Override other laws” and have effect “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, rules and regulations” when it was in force.

It added that proposed law would stand repealed once elections to both assemblies were held, noting that general elections and polls to Sindh and Balochistan assemblies need not be held for it to be repealed.

Dar tabled bill in assembly as Supreme Court (SC) had ordered federal government to release funds for elections until April 10 alongside ordering ECP to hold elections in Punjab on May 14. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 14 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.