Arguments heard in PTI funding case as clock ticks on CEC tenure

ECP asks ruling party to submit written reply; case not likely to conclude in current CEC’s tenure


Saqib Virk December 02, 2019
PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The hope that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would be able to issue its order in a foreign funding case against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during tenure of the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan has faded away.

After lots of delay, the ECP is hearing the six-year-old case on daily basis. However, the five-year tenure of the current CEC is set to expire on December 6.

The lawyers of Akbar S Babar, a disgruntled PTI member who moved the ECP in 2014 against allegedly illegal funding of the party, completed their arguments on Monday before a scrutiny committee. The committee later asked the PTI to submit its detailed response to the arguments on December 4.

A legal team led by Shah Khawar represented the PTI was also present.

Babar’s counsel –Ahmed Hasan – completed his arguments on the evidence provided by them. He also replied to questions raised by the committee, which will also examine the proofs provided by the PTI.

Speaking to media, Babar later said the PTI failed to answer the scrutiny committee.

“This was the 45th meeting of the scrutiny committee. We furnished proofs against the PTI in the past as well and the PTI has never been able to satisfy the ECP.”

He said the ECP had asked the PTI to submit any documents in its defence. Now the committee has asked the PTI to submit whatever response it wants to give as reply to their proofs.

“We have requested the committee to let us see the PTI’s reply. We believe it is a national issue. Details of the PTI accounts should be shown to the nation. We have provided proofs of PTI’s foreign accounts.

Babar said he had requested the case should be completed as soon as possible. He alleged that the PTI government has used historic delaying tactics.

“The government, rather than facilitating justice, has become a hurdle in the way to justice. The PTI also has issued notice to its lawyer Hamid Khan as Khan had confirmed my stance. Now the old, ideological workers of the PTI will join hands,” he said.

Representatives of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People Party (PPP) will also appear before the ECP committee today (Tuesday) in connection with allegation of their foreign funding. The PTI’s Parliamentary Secretary Farrukh Habib has filed applications against the two parties.

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