Taking a warpath with the Supreme Court, the federal cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, decided to send the issue of funds for the upcoming elections in Punjab to the parliament. In a apparent move to defy the Supreme Court’s order, the cabinet decided to take the cover of the parliament. Sources said the cabinet discussed the possibility of releasing funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the May 14 polls in Punjab but decided to keep the supremacy of the parliament and take the matter to the parliament.
The cabinet also discussed the political and constitutional crisis in the country and approved the National Security Committee meeting’s decisions. The cabinet condemned the President’s act of returning the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill of 2023 to the government. The meeting was held through a video link in the provincial capital, and the future line of action was discussed.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has not hinted at whether the government will release funds to the ECP by April 10 as ordered by the Supreme Court.
