PTI ordered to submit foreign funds details
Court allows ECP to decide matter as per law
PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court on Thursday ordered the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to submit details of foreign funds and sources of funding to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with directions to the ECP to not give anyone access to the documents.
The court was hearing Akbar S Babar’s petition regarding the party’s alleged foreign funding.
After almost three years of litigation at different forums, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani directed the PTI to submit the documents within a fortnight and allowed the ECP to act ‘as per law’ once the documents – to be treated as confidential – are submitted.
In addition, the court allowed the parties to the case to approach the IHC if they have any reservations in the foreign funding case.
PTI funding needs thorough probe: SC
The directives came after counsel for the PTI said that the party was ready to submit details and sources of funding before the ECP in line with the April 1, 2015 order “only if the commission does not give access to any party, including disgruntled member of the PTI Akbar S Babar” who had taken the matter to the ECP initially.
The ECP in its order of April 1, 2015, had stated that audit reports of the PTI submitted before the ECP did not contain the source and details of foreign funds.
All the parties to the case – the PTI, ECP and the petitioner – appeared to be satisfied with the decision as the court has accepted their requests in a way which suits them all.
The court accepted the PTI’s condition that no one would be given access to the documents. In addition, Babar and counsel for the ECP said that PTI has finally been directed to submit details and sources of funding to the commission after three years.
During the hearing, the PTI’s counsel said that neither the ECP was a court nor a tribunal and, therefore, had no jurisdiction to decide the matter.
He, however, consented that the party was ready to submit details on the condition that “the documents are not handed over to anyone”.
The counsel for Babar maintained before the single bench that every party was bound to reveal sources of party funds and added that even an ordinary citizen has a right to seek details of funding and sources of a party from the ECP.
ECP orders PTI to produce financial record by Sept 7
The court, however, decided that the PTI would submit details of the funds and sources before the ECP in two weeks while directing the poll supervisory body to decide the matter according to the law and keep the documents to itself.
The ECP’s counsel, talking to the media, said the ECP has twice decided that it has jurisdiction to know the sources of funding of any party and whether it received funds from any prohibited sources.
In his talk, Babar said: “The IHC’s decision is an important development,” adding, “PTI Chairman Imran Khan wants to obtain stay in the case and never intends to submit details before the ECP.”
Babar said: “He patiently waited for years and finally the day has come when the PTI chief has been asked to provide documents to the ECP.”
The court adjourned the case till October 10.
The Islamabad High Court on Thursday ordered the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to submit details of foreign funds and sources of funding to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with directions to the ECP to not give anyone access to the documents.
The court was hearing Akbar S Babar’s petition regarding the party’s alleged foreign funding.
After almost three years of litigation at different forums, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani directed the PTI to submit the documents within a fortnight and allowed the ECP to act ‘as per law’ once the documents – to be treated as confidential – are submitted.
In addition, the court allowed the parties to the case to approach the IHC if they have any reservations in the foreign funding case.
PTI funding needs thorough probe: SC
The directives came after counsel for the PTI said that the party was ready to submit details and sources of funding before the ECP in line with the April 1, 2015 order “only if the commission does not give access to any party, including disgruntled member of the PTI Akbar S Babar” who had taken the matter to the ECP initially.
The ECP in its order of April 1, 2015, had stated that audit reports of the PTI submitted before the ECP did not contain the source and details of foreign funds.
All the parties to the case – the PTI, ECP and the petitioner – appeared to be satisfied with the decision as the court has accepted their requests in a way which suits them all.
The court accepted the PTI’s condition that no one would be given access to the documents. In addition, Babar and counsel for the ECP said that PTI has finally been directed to submit details and sources of funding to the commission after three years.
During the hearing, the PTI’s counsel said that neither the ECP was a court nor a tribunal and, therefore, had no jurisdiction to decide the matter.
He, however, consented that the party was ready to submit details on the condition that “the documents are not handed over to anyone”.
The counsel for Babar maintained before the single bench that every party was bound to reveal sources of party funds and added that even an ordinary citizen has a right to seek details of funding and sources of a party from the ECP.
ECP orders PTI to produce financial record by Sept 7
The court, however, decided that the PTI would submit details of the funds and sources before the ECP in two weeks while directing the poll supervisory body to decide the matter according to the law and keep the documents to itself.
The ECP’s counsel, talking to the media, said the ECP has twice decided that it has jurisdiction to know the sources of funding of any party and whether it received funds from any prohibited sources.
In his talk, Babar said: “The IHC’s decision is an important development,” adding, “PTI Chairman Imran Khan wants to obtain stay in the case and never intends to submit details before the ECP.”
Babar said: “He patiently waited for years and finally the day has come when the PTI chief has been asked to provide documents to the ECP.”
The court adjourned the case till October 10.