ECP to announce PTI foreign funding case verdict on May 8

The case was filed by a former PTI central leader in November 2014

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reserved on Monday its judgement on the maintainability of a petition filed against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for allegedly not disclosing the funds the party had received from foreign sources. The ECP will announce it on May 8.

PTI lawyer Anwar Mansur Khan concluded his argument that the ECP could not act as a court or exceed its mandated role under the constitution that was restricted to holding elections.

Akbar Sher Babar, an estranged PTI founding member who developed differences with party chief Imran Khan over internal corruption and alleged violations of laws to maintain its accounts, had filed a petition before ECP in November 2015.

Baber, through his counsel Syed Ahmed Hasan Shah, had sought account details of money transferred from abroad including the US, England, Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates to PTI accounts or to accounts of the party’s employees since July 2010.

The PTI had approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) arguing that the ECP did not have the authority to adjudicate a matter of disputed facts and complaints raised under the Political Parties Order, 2002.

The IHC had set aside the ECP's order to examine the audited accounts of the PTI. However, the court remanded the case back to the ECP directing it to decide it afresh while keeping in view the objections raised by the PTI.

The PTI spent Rs364.2 million during financial year 2014-15 under the head of ‘party expenditures’, according to statements of assets submitted by the party with the ECP.

Article 13 of the Political Parties Order of 2002 states that every political party shall submit with the ECP within 60 days from the close of each financial year, a consolidated statement of accounts of the party duly audited by a chartered accountant.