IHC reverts ECP decision to ban PM Kisan Package

ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) - Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday reversed the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that had suspended implementation on few parts of Prime Minister's Kisan Package.

Hearing an appeal filed by federal government, the IHC announced the reserved judgement saying that Kisan Package is a project of public welfare and ECP cannot stop government from implementing it. The provision of such support packages is really important to improve the poor condition of Pakistani farmers, it added.

The federal government prayed to the court that Kisan Package was also announced in Budget 2015-16 and it is not aimed at manipulating the results of local bodies elections as said by the ECP. The support package was not limited to Punjab and Sindh only, the provinces where LB polls are scheduled, but all four provinces and FATA. Hence ECP has deprived the farmers of Pakistan from their due right by suspending the PM Kisan Package.

In September Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced a Rs 341 billion relief package for famers, just weeks ahead of local bodies elections in Punjab and Sindh. The ECP suspended implementation on few parts of the package till December 3, terming it an attempt to influence the scheduled polls.