The Election Commission of Pakistan submitted a progress report to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, saying that the federal and provincial governments had not provided funds or security for elections in Punjab.

The ECP submitted its one-page report in a sealed envelope to the three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar.

The ECP officials who arrived at the top court with the report said they were not at liberty to divulge the contents.

However, sources said that in the report the ECP had explained that neither funds nor security was provided by the government so far. It also says that the government has not offered a clear answer either.

The report says the Punjab government faced a shortage of 200,000 security personnel for holding the election.

The three-member Supreme Court had ruled in the election delay case that the governments in Punjab and the center should provide whatever was required by the ECP for the conduct of elections by April 10. It had told ECP to submit a progress report on April 11.

Funds ‘unlikely’ to be released

Sources told Aaj News on Saturday that the federal government is unlikely to issue funds for the elections.

No meetings of the Economic Coordination Committee are schdeuled which means funds acn only be issued through circulation summaries.

Since the Supreme COurt made its instructions clear, not issuing funds could lead to contempt proceedings against the finance minister and finance secretary.

The court had ordered that funds should be issued by April 10 so the ECP as part of the schedule.