Kissan Package: release of funds termed violation of code of conduct

Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza Khan Wednesday reportedly said that the release of funds under Prime Minister''s Rs 341 billion Kissan Relief Package after the announcement of schedule for local government elections is a violation of code of conduct. A five-member commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) former Justice Sardar Raza Khan resumed the hearing of Prime Minister''s Kissan Package case.
Secretary National Food Security, Secretary Information and Additional Attorney General appeared before the commission. However, Secretary Finance was not available. During hearing, Additional Attorney General Muhammad Riaz argued that the Kissan Package was a part of the federal budget 2015-16 and the election schedule had not been announced when this package was added as part of the budget.
The CEC remarked that both the announcement of the package and the release of funds after the release of election schedule constitute a violation of code of conduct. The Election Commission ordered Secretary Finance to appear before the commission in the next hearing and adjourned the hearing till November 17.
Earlier, Additional Attorney General argued before the commission that the beneficiaries of the National Kissan Relief Package - the farmers - were neither invited, nor issued notices, nor heard; which is a violation of the principles'' of natural justice. He further argued that political parties were also deprived of their right to be consulted. He maintained that the relief package was suspended without hearing the Ministry of Finance; and it was violation of Article 10-A of the Constitution, which deals with the right to a fair trial. The package was not aimed at local election voters and the issuance and implementation of the Kissan package constitute a purely executive function of the federal government. The election commission cannot prevent the federal government from fulfilling its legal and constitutional responsibility.
In September, the ECP suspended implementation on few parts of the package till December 3, terming it an attempt to influence the scheduled polls. The Islamabad High Court on October 14 declared Election Commission''s decision to halt implementation of the Rs 341 billion Kissan Package announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif null and void and directed the ECP to review its decision.