ECP claims progress in funding case

Spokesperson says ECP committed to fulfilling its responsibilities without any pressure

ISLAMABAD:

“The commission is fully aware of its constitutional as well as legal responsibilities and has directed the scrutiny committee to meet at least three days a week,” the ECP spokesperson said in response to the Pakistan Democratic Movement protest in front of its office demanding an early decision on the PTI's foreign funding case.

The spokesperson said that despite the coronavirus epidemic, lawyers' engagements and the retirement of a member of the scrutiny committee, the “ECP has made significant progress in the foreign funding case”.

“The ECP is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities without any pressure and is ready at all times to ensure free, fair and transparent elections,” the spokesperson claimed.

In 2014, Akbar S Babar, founding member of the PTI, had filed a petition with the ECP, alleging irregularities in party funds.

He said besides receiving funds from overseas Pakistanis, the PTI had also received funds from foreigners, which was not allowed by the Pakistani law.

In his petition, he has stated that limited liability companies were set up in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries to raise funds for the party from overseas Pakistanis living there, in which the proceeds came from illicit sources.

The PTI claims that the party did not receive funds from illicit sources as documents of all funds received from abroad are available.

The PTI has approached the Islamabad High Court six times to stay the hearing of the petition in the ECP and has taken the position that the commission does not have the authority to examine the accounts of any party.

The PTI also filed similar petitions against the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in the ECP. A special scrutiny committee was set up to look into the matter.