TLP off the hook in prohibited funding case

ECP withdraws notice; Ministry of Interior also gives clean chit to TLP in Faizabad sit-in case

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday withdrew the notice against the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in the prohibited funding case.

The Ministry of Interior has also given a clean chit to the TLP in its report submitted to the ECP, while the ECP has sought details of cases and FIRs registered against the TLP from the interior secretary.
The ECP’s three-member commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Muhammad Raza Khan, heard the case against TLP’s party registration, funding sources and Faizabad sit-in.

Lawyer for the TLP said the Ministry of Interior and the ECP’s scrutiny committee submitted their reports regarding the TLP. “There is nothing against us in the interior ministry’s report,” he added.

The CEC remarked that according to the Ministry of Interior’s report, the trial regarding the Faizabad sit-in stood deferred.

The TLP has shown Rs1.586 million in other funds.



The lawyer argued that the TLP’s funding was not from any prohibited sources. An affidavit has been submitted with the ECP.
The interior ministry’s report also gave a clean chit to the TLP, stating that the leaders and office bearers were not included in the dysfunctional list.

No restrictions under the Anti-Terrorism Act have been imposed on any leader. There are 14 cases against Khadim Rizvi, nine against Pir Afzal Qadri, five each against Allama Waheed Noor and Shaikh Azhar Hussain in Punjab and Islamabad courts. The hearing was adjourned till August 22.