By Khushal Khan 

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's political and judicial crisis grew further as the 13 parties ruling alliance dominant parliament on Monday rejected to release Rs 21 billion to the election commission as per the top court order.

The new development could put Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his over 70-member cabinet in trouble if the Supreme Court of Pakistan initiated contempt of court proceedings against him. 

Last week, the country top court ordered the central bank of Pakistan to release Rs 21 billion to the election commission for holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

However, on Monday, the National Assembly rejected a motion of the government seeking a supplementary sum of Rs21 billion for elections in Punjab, a local daily Dawn reported.

Currently, the parliament is dominated by the 13 parties ruling alliance as over 120 members of the major opposition party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan have already resigned from the parliament. 

Absence of Khan’s party, the ruling alliance easily made legislation and passed such motion against the top court. 

“No parliament has the authority to prevent people from voting, such a parliament can lay the foundation of a fascist government, no democratic system can have anything to do with such a parliament and its decisions, the constitution is clear in this regard. It is said that the Parliament does not have any prerogative on election expenses,” Fawad Chaudhry, senior leader of Khan’s party tweeted.

The 13 parties’ coalition government trying to delay elections in two key provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where provincial assemblies had already been dissolved by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party and as per the constitution of the country, the elections should be held within 90 days till April 18.

However, PDM alliance created hurdles through their governors and later apparently used the election commission to delay it until Oct. 8.

However, the country’s top court earlier this month ordered the election commission to hold it on May 14. 

Now the ruling alliance trying to create administrative hurdles to stop elections as they fear could face the worst defeat if the elections are held as Imran Khan currently enjoy massive popularity in Pakistan.