Pakistan parliament rejects government move to fund elections

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan's parliament Thursday rejected a bill seeking allocation of funds for holding elections in the country's key province of Punjab, a move expected to fuel already escalating political and constitutional crises.

The Supreme Court last week ordered the federal government to provide 21 billion Pakistani rupees ($74.7 million) by April 10 for the country's election authority for holding elections in the northeastern Punjab province, which are scheduled for May 14.

The government, however, had referred the matter to the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, which refused to allocate the required funds, state-run Pakistan Television reported.

According to the constitutional experts, the rare move may invite a contempt of court proceeding against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The top court has already summoned Finance Secretary and Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Jameel Ahmad for not complying with its orders.

Imran Khan, former prime minister and chairman of center-right Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, had dissolved his government and provincial assemblies of Punjab and the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkwa province in January in an attempt to force the government for snap elections, which otherwise was scheduled in October this year.

Pakistan's Constitution requires fresh elections within 90 days of dissolution of assemblies, whether provincial or national.

However, the Election Commission had postponed the polls in the two provinces until Oct. 8, the day the general elections are slated to be held, citing financial and security reasons.

Overturning the decision, a three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, on April 4, ordered the Election Commission to hold polls in Punjab on May 14.

The government, nonetheless, insists that elections should be held simultaneously throughout the country.