Polls funds: NA speaker to write letter to CJP after lawmakers assert parliament’s supremacy

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said on Wednesday that he will be writing a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, conveying to him the “sentiments and thoughts” of members of the house about Supreme Court orders on elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as the release of funds in this regard.

Ashraf announced the decision after taking “sense of the house” — expressed by members by thumping of desks — and on the call of several lawmakers, particularly the PML-N’s Muhammad Barjees Tahir, who asserted parliament’s supremacy.

The NA speaker’s decision also followed the federal cabinet’s decision to again refer to parliament the finance ministry’s summary for the release of funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for polls in Punjab and KP.

Earlier today, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said the federal cabinet had approved that the matter for the release of Rs21 billion, initially ordered by the Supreme Court in an April 4 order, be taken to parliament for a second time.

The statement was issued following a meeting of the ruling coalition and just a day before the SC is set to resume hearing a case pertaining to the elections in the country.

More to follow