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Poll funds case turns a political football as it is sent back to parliament again

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 The issue of allocation of funds for holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa became more complicated on Monday as the Standing Committee of the National Assembly sent it back to the parliament.

This was announced by Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha after the meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance.

She said that neither the SBP nor the Finance Divison has the authority to allocate funds from the Federal Consolidated Fund.

She said that the allocation of funds required approval from the parliament. “Without the approval of the parliament, no bill or budget has any legal authenticity.

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“Hence, we leave the matter up to the parliament now. The parliament is supreme for us because this is what is written in the Constitution.”

Regarding today meeting, she explained that the SBP can only allocate the money but cannot release it.
The Finance Division can only act on the orders of the federal cabinet. It is up to the cabinet to take the matter to the parliament … if the parliament approves, the funds will be disbursed today, she added.

Standing Committee meeting

Earlier, SBP Acting Governor Sima Kamil on Monday, while briefing the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance, said the State Bank of (SBP) has allocated Rs21 billion for elections in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as directed by the Supreme Court but it has no authority to release the amount.

This Standing Committee met to review the latest situation as the deadline set by the apex court expires today.

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The meeting was held with committee Chairman Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh in the chair and attended by Law Minister Senator Azam Nazir Tarar, Trade Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Barjees Tahir and others.
Law Minister Tarar said that every penny from the FCF is spent on the directive of the federal government.

Funds for elections were not allocated in the annual budget. The finance ministry tabled a bill titled “Charged Sum for General Election (Provincial Assemblies of Punjab & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Bill 2023. But both houses of parliament rejected the bill, he added.

About apex court’s April 17 order, he said that the matter of the approval of funds should be reviewed first and asserted that the “Constitution precedes all”.

He said that if more funds were needed, the federal government could offer supplementary grants.

Instead of confrontation, a solution should be found,” Tarar added.

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Meanwhile, PML-N’s Barjees Tahir said elections in Punjab would harm the country.

He recalled that even in its previous session, the standing committee had decided against releasing funds to the ECP.

He questioned how the apex court could issue an order to the SBP. “Does the national treasury belong to the state bank’s governor?”

AGP Awan said institutions have to ensure the implementation of the decision of the Supreme Court. The National Assembly has the prerogative to approve or reject these funds.

Commerce Minister Qamar said that institutions were being threatened with contempt of court.

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“I disagree with the law minister and the attorney general,” Qamar told the committee while noting that the budget approval was the NA’s authority.

“The Supreme Court is saying that the authority to allocate the budget should be given to us. The National Assembly cannot give this authority to any institution,” he noted.

Supreme Court order

A three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar had directed the government on April 4 to provide Rs21 billion to the ECP for elections by April 10 and instructed the ECP to submit a report in this regard on April 11.

However, the government referred the matter to the parliament which refused to comply with court order.

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The court summoned finance secretary, SBP governor, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan and the ECP on April 14. It also directed the SBP to submit the record and details of all monies whatsoever of the federal government lying with or under the control, custody or management of the bank.

After the in-chamber hearing, the court ordered the SBP to release funds from the FCF for elections.

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Govt wants more women in police department: Maryam Nawaz

Govt wants more women in police department: Maryam Nawaz

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Govt wants more women in police department: Maryam Nawaz

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said government wants to increase number of women in the police department.

Maryam, while addressing the passing-out parade ceremony at Chung Police Training College, said, “I salute you all. I am happy the first Sword of Honour has been awarded to a female police officer. I am proud of you. I was waiting for this event since taking oath as chief minister, she said.

“When I wore the police uniform for the first time, I realised it is a big responsibility,” said the chief minister and added she was happy to see 530 women passing out.

She said she happy to see women police officers performing duties.

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“When I wore the uniform for the first time today, I felt it was a big responsibility. I am proud of women serving in police department,” said CM Maryam.

She said there were 7,000 women police personnel serving in Punjab. “I want to increase women participation in Punjab police. Lady cops are superhuman. Women are soft hearted so they forgive.

However, there should be no tenderness in your heart for the oppressor,” said the chief minister and asked the lady police officers to take pity on the oppressed and hold the oppressor accountable for his misdeeds.

“THERE IS NO REVENGE IN MY HEART”

Maryam said there was no feelings of revenge in her heart. “If, being the chief minister, I decide something against someone, I do it with a heavy heart,” she said.

“To be a chief minister is not an easy task. I had to make hectic efforts reach this place,” she said.
She paid glowing tribute to her father Nawaz Sharif and uncle Shehbaz Sharif.

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PASSING OUT PARADE

Earlier, a passing out parade was held at Chung Police Training College. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz attended the ceremony as a special guest.

Maryam inspected the parade dressed in police uniform. She also distributed prizes to police officers who exhibited excellent performance.

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Supreme Court reinstates Balochistan Assembly speaker, annuls ECP’s decision

Supreme Court reinstates Balochistan Assembly speaker, annuls ECP’s decision

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Supreme Court reinstates Balochistan Assembly speaker, annuls ECP's decision

The Supreme Court on Thursday annulled the decision of Election Commission (ECP) and reinstated Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, also annulled the ECP’s order of re-polling at 12 polling stations of PB 51 Chaman.

Justice Khan asked the ECP counsel under which regulation the commission ordered re-election at 12 polling stations?

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that the ECP considered only 12 polling stations but ignored others.

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Justice Khan remarked that the ECP had neither conducted an inquiry nor followed any rules. The DG Law submitted that the ECP took into account those 12 polling stations regarding which it had received plea. There was high voter turnout in these 12 polling stations.

Justice Mazhar said that the ECP should have taken into account the entire constituency. Had the ECP performed according to rules, people would not have had to come to court.

The court referred the case back to the ECP after consulting the parties and ordered the commission to decide the issue within 10 days.

It may be remembered that the ECP had ordered re-polling on the application of Khaliq’s opposing candidate Asghar Khan Achakzai and withdrew the notification of his success. PML-N’s candidate Khaliq challenged the ECP decision. 

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Govt, Opp prepare power-sharing framework for NA committees

Govt, Opp prepare power-sharing framework for NA committees

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Govt, Opp prepare power-sharing framework for NA committees

The government and opposition on Thursday prepared a power-sharing formula for formation of National Assembly committees, after which the negotiations entered the final stage.

The government alliance will get chairmanship of 26 committees of the National Assembly while opposition will have chairmanship of 11 committees.

Similarly, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee will be from the opposition and the chairman of the Kashmir Committee will be appointed from the government side.

The speaker will be the chairman of the National Assembly House Business Advisory Committee.

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According to the framework, standing committees will have 13 members and Public Accounts Committee will have 16 members from the government alliance.

Likewise, Kashmir Committee will have 15 members while House Business Advisory will have 18 members from the coalition government.

The number of opposition members in the standing committees of the National Assembly, Public Accounts Committee and Kashmir Committee will be 7-7.

Apart from this, the chairman of 14 committees of the National Assembly will be from the Muslim League-N, while PPP will get chairmanship of eight committees.

MQM will get chairmanships of two committees. Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) will get one chairmanship each.

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10 committees will be chaired by independent members supported by PTI while one committee will be chaired by JUI.

Out of the 20 members of the standing committees, 14 members will be appointed from the government side and six from the opposition parties.

Each standing committee will have seven members from PML-N, four from PPP and one member each from PML-Q and MQM.

In the standing committee, five independent members of PTI and one member of JUI will be given membership as committee members.

Of the 23 members of the Public Accounts Committee, 16 MPs will be included from the government and seven from the opposition.
About 22 members of the Privileges Committee, 15 members will be included from the government and seven from the opposition side. Of 16 members in the government assurances committee, 11 will be from the government and five from the opposition.

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In the 22-member Kashmir Committee, the government’s quota will be 15 while the opposition will contribute with seven members. Of the 26 members of the House Business Advisory Committee, 18 will be from the government and eight from the opposition.

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