Pakistan Supreme Court orders central bank to provide funds for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces

Pakistan Supreme Court

Islamabad, Apr 14 (PTI) Pakistan's Supreme Court on Friday directed the central bank to provide Rs 21 billion for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces after the government failed to provide funds for the polls.

The apex court on April 4 ordered the federal government to provide Rs 21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by Monday to enable it to organise polls in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

Instead, the coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, introduced a bill titled “Charged Sum for General Election (Provincial Assemblies of Punjab & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Bill 2023” in Parliament on Monday to authorise the release of the required funds for the ECP to hold elections.