PTI concealed foreign fund information: ECP
Rejects contention matter regarding funding through prohibited sources has been past and closed
PTI Chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has told the Supreme Court that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) concealed information about foreign funds received through prohibited sources in its annual statements.
Ibrahim Satti, the counsel for the ECP, submitted the reply on Tuesday during hearing of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Hanif Abbasi’s petition seeking disqualification of the PTI chief for giving false certificate before the ECP that the party did not get funds from prohibited sources.
The counsel stated that the PTI did not disclose details of foreign funding in four years. He, however, stated that all political parties are not disclosing the details of foreign funding in their annual statements.
Foreign funding case: PTI fails to submit account details – yet again
The reply says that every political party is required to account for in the manner set out in Form-I, indicating its income, expenditure, source of fund within 60 days from the close of each financial year (July-June), submit consolidated statement of the audited account by a charted accountant showing funds from any source prohibited under the order received by the party.
“Political parties, who are acting under the command of law, are required to submit statement of all funds received and expenditure made, of course honestly but not fraudulently.”
The ECP rejected the PTI’s contention that the matter regarding obtaining funds through prohibited sources has been past and closed, adding “the commission can legally reopen the matter and proceed in accordance with law”.
ECP to announce PTI foreign funding case verdict on May 8
“Whenever the ECP comes to know that any fraud has been committed or suppression of fact or concealment of facts is made or there is misrepresentation or something done without jurisdiction, the ECP is fully empowered to undo the same and others.”
The reply states that there are many cases of similar nature pending before the ECP.
“Some of which have been adjourned sine die while others pending. It may please be appreciated that any remarks touching the merit of the cases if expressed in this behalf would tantamount to expression of opinion in pending case not heard so far.”
Meanwhile, the three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, asked the PTI’s counsel to provide details of remittances given by them to the chartered accountant for audit purposes.
The bench has also asked PML-N lawyer Akram Sheikh to give his opinion about transfer of the issue related to funds received though prohibited sources to the ECP for determination.
The hearing of the case is adjourned till Wednesday (today).
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has told the Supreme Court that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) concealed information about foreign funds received through prohibited sources in its annual statements.
Ibrahim Satti, the counsel for the ECP, submitted the reply on Tuesday during hearing of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Hanif Abbasi’s petition seeking disqualification of the PTI chief for giving false certificate before the ECP that the party did not get funds from prohibited sources.
The counsel stated that the PTI did not disclose details of foreign funding in four years. He, however, stated that all political parties are not disclosing the details of foreign funding in their annual statements.
Foreign funding case: PTI fails to submit account details – yet again
The reply says that every political party is required to account for in the manner set out in Form-I, indicating its income, expenditure, source of fund within 60 days from the close of each financial year (July-June), submit consolidated statement of the audited account by a charted accountant showing funds from any source prohibited under the order received by the party.
“Political parties, who are acting under the command of law, are required to submit statement of all funds received and expenditure made, of course honestly but not fraudulently.”
The ECP rejected the PTI’s contention that the matter regarding obtaining funds through prohibited sources has been past and closed, adding “the commission can legally reopen the matter and proceed in accordance with law”.
ECP to announce PTI foreign funding case verdict on May 8
“Whenever the ECP comes to know that any fraud has been committed or suppression of fact or concealment of facts is made or there is misrepresentation or something done without jurisdiction, the ECP is fully empowered to undo the same and others.”
The reply states that there are many cases of similar nature pending before the ECP.
“Some of which have been adjourned sine die while others pending. It may please be appreciated that any remarks touching the merit of the cases if expressed in this behalf would tantamount to expression of opinion in pending case not heard so far.”
Meanwhile, the three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, asked the PTI’s counsel to provide details of remittances given by them to the chartered accountant for audit purposes.
The bench has also asked PML-N lawyer Akram Sheikh to give his opinion about transfer of the issue related to funds received though prohibited sources to the ECP for determination.
The hearing of the case is adjourned till Wednesday (today).