ECP reviews ‘more evidence’ of PTI’s foreign funding

Summons Akbar S Babar, ruling party’s counsel again on Feb 25

ISLAMABAD: A scrutiny committee of the country’s polls supervisory body – the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) – reviewed on Monday the additional documents submitted by a disgruntled member of the ruling PTI as evidence of the party’s alleged funding from foreign sources.

The petitioner, Akbar S Babar, and the PTI’s counsel Shah Khawar appeared before the ECP scrutiny committee which, according to sources, has been reviewing the additional documents provided by Babar to substantiate his claim that the PTI received illegal funds from other countries.

The committee later summoned Babar and Khawar again on Feb 25.
Speaking to media after the hearing, Babar said he expected that the PTI documents would be shown to him at the hearing, but so far he had not been given any documents provided by the PTI.

Expressing reservations over the committee, the applicant said he does not expect justice from it now as, according to him, the committee is engaged in ‘fault finding’ rather that ‘fact finding’.

“The scrutiny committee has not started any investigation. It has not contacted with the relevant company to review the audit report. In addition, the PTI has not submitted details of bank accounts related to its foreign funding,” he added.

He said details of 23 bank accounts had not been shown till now. He demanded that the committee submit its report to the ECP as soon as possible. “The matter will be decided in the Supreme Court. Facts and evidence are being hidden,” he claimed.