![ISI Chief Calls On Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial](https://thefridaytimes.com/digital_images/large/2023-04-17/isi-chief-calls-on-chief-justice-umar-ata-bandial-1687414154-1990.jpg)
The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) DG and two other military officers met Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Monday, according to journalist Imran Waseem.
In a podcast today, Waseem said that the meeting lasted for at least an hour and focused on the May 14 Punjab elections.
Prior to this meeting, three officials representing the defence ministry went to the SC where they met the Attorney General.
Earlier today, the National Assembly rejected a motion seeking a supplementary grant of Rs21 billion for the polls, making them further uncertain.
Addressing the session, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar said the ECP had delayed elections in Punjab till October owing to lack of finances and the current security situation.
“In such economic circumstances if elections are held again and again for the sake of one man’s ego, it is not in the country’s interest,” he said.
Read this too: ‘Election Talks Have No Standing Because Of Govt-Imran Distrust’
He said the amount in the Federal Consolidated Fund, except for the charged expenditure, could only be given once the National Assembly’s approves it, with no other authority holding the powers.
Subsequently, the supplementary demand 64-A moved by the law minister was rejected by the House.
On Friday, the apex court directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to release a sum of Rs21 billion for the elections in Punjab and KP and send an “appropriate communication” to the finance ministry by April 17 in this regard.
The SC had also observed that the required funds could be made available to the top electoral authority “immediately and within a matter of a day”.
As per the court’s observation, there was “absolutely no difficulty or hitch, financially or procedurally or in terms of the relevant authorisation by and under the Constitution” to release the crucial funds forthwith.
In a podcast today, Waseem said that the meeting lasted for at least an hour and focused on the May 14 Punjab elections.
Prior to this meeting, three officials representing the defence ministry went to the SC where they met the Attorney General.
Earlier today, the National Assembly rejected a motion seeking a supplementary grant of Rs21 billion for the polls, making them further uncertain.
Addressing the session, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar said the ECP had delayed elections in Punjab till October owing to lack of finances and the current security situation.
“In such economic circumstances if elections are held again and again for the sake of one man’s ego, it is not in the country’s interest,” he said.
Read this too: ‘Election Talks Have No Standing Because Of Govt-Imran Distrust’
He said the amount in the Federal Consolidated Fund, except for the charged expenditure, could only be given once the National Assembly’s approves it, with no other authority holding the powers.
Subsequently, the supplementary demand 64-A moved by the law minister was rejected by the House.
On Friday, the apex court directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to release a sum of Rs21 billion for the elections in Punjab and KP and send an “appropriate communication” to the finance ministry by April 17 in this regard.
The SC had also observed that the required funds could be made available to the top electoral authority “immediately and within a matter of a day”.
As per the court’s observation, there was “absolutely no difficulty or hitch, financially or procedurally or in terms of the relevant authorisation by and under the Constitution” to release the crucial funds forthwith.