PTI lodges foreign funding case against JUI-F

Accuses party of receiving funds from Iraq and Libya; requests ECP to summon Maulana Fazl and inquire about funding

ISLAMABAD:

After having earlier filed foreign funding cases against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) filed a foreign funding case against the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday.

The petition, submitted by PTI Member National Assembly (MNA) Farukh Habib, includes the transcript of a TV interview of estranged JUI-F senior leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed in which he spoke about party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman receiving funding from Iraq and Libya.

“Several JUI-F leaders, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, used to visit Libya and Iraq on a regular basis,” the petition contends. It calls for action to be taken against the party according to the Election Act. 

Talking to the media after submitting the petition, Habib said that the ECP has been asked to summon Fazl and Ahmed and inquire about the funding.

“The sources through which Fazlur Rehman made his properties will be revealed,” the MNA said. “It will also reveal the source from where the anti-government campaign in the country was funded,” he further maintained.

He added that the ECP has the power to summon Fazlur Rehman and take action, adding that the foreign-funded parties have come together.

“You don't care about Islam, you care about Islamabad,” he said while referring to Fazl.

Also read: Imran received funds from India, Israel for 2018 polls: Fazl

Habib urged Fazl to explain his agenda for taking money from Iraq and Libya and "submit the receipts if your hands are clean".

“Nawaz Sharif took [funding] from Osama bin Laden in the name of the Islamic system and ending a woman's rule,” Habib claimed. “Maryam Safdar should also come to the ECP with her receipts,” the PTI MNA stated.

He further added that videos and petitions had also been submitted to the ECP today. Habib said that there was no objection to the proceedings of the scrutiny committee being public but this decision was to be taken by the ECP.

“If the PTI took action regarding foreign funding itself, it will then be accused of carrying out political revenge,” he said. “It would be better that the Election Commission completes its work first, the rest of the institutions will then do their job,” Habib said.

The ruling party's petition against JUI-F comes days after Fazl hollered at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government.

"We do not believe in either Imran Khan or Israel," he bellowed, accusing the premier of having received funding from Israel and India for the 2018 general elections.

Addressing the rally at Quaid-e-Azam’s Mausoleum on January 22, Fazl said that it was out of question to recognise a country that stands starkly against Pakistan.

Scrutiny committee meeting

Referring to the adjournment of today's meeting of the ECP scrutiny committee, owing to the absence of PTI's counsel Shah Khawar in the foreign funding case, Habib stated that Khawar will be present at the next hearing.

"He could not attend today's meeting owing to his engagement in the court today," the PTI MNA claimed.

Habib further stated that the PTI did not have a problem with the foreign funding case being heard openly, but added that it was decision to be taken by the ECP.