By 
Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said at a press conference on Saturday that elections would not be held within 90 days.
Dar expressed gratitude to friendly countries for providing financial assistance, a condition imposed by the IMF prior to any Staff Level Agreement.
According to the finance minister, the court decision requires the federal government to release Rs21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Punjab chapter. “The ECP should then come and inform the court,” the finance minister said.
Earlier in the day, the Punjab police completed its work for the possible provision of security for the exercise, in accordance with Supreme Court orders to assist the election commission in conducting polls in the province on May 14.
According to police officials, they will be unable to provide security in accordance with the election commission’s formula.
‘This is why I canceled my trip to the United States.’
Dar stated that due to the country’s ‘constitutional crisis,’ he would virtually participate in meetings with the World Bank and IMF being held in Washington D.C.
To clear the air, the finance minister stated that he has been ‘banned’ by the IMF. He claimed he canceled his trip to the United States on the orders of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“Let me clarify that I have not been banned by the IMF, and Pakistan is an IMF member and not a beggar country,” he stated.
