ECP constitutes committee to investigate foreign funding case against PTI

Directs counsels of both parties to appear before panel on March 19

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday formed a three-member penal to investigate allegations that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had been receiving donations through illegitimate channels.

The move came after more than three-year-long hearing of a case related to alleged foreign funding to PTI. Akbar S Babar, a disgruntled PTI leader, had moved the ECP in November 2014 with a plea to audit the party’s accounts.

A five-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Mohammad Raza, ordered the formation of an ECP Scrutiny Committee, headed by its director general (DG) law, to scrutinise the PTI accounts. The committee will include two ECP officials.

The scrutiny committee has been asked to report back to the ECP within 30 days. The scrutiny of accounts will be done in the presence of the petitioner and his lawyers as well as authorised representatives of the PTI and their lawyers.

The order, read verbally by the CEC, said the first meeting of the ECP Scrutiny Committee would be held on March 19, 2018 and finalise its report within one month of its formation.