Scrutiny panel holds in-camera meeting in PML-N’s funding case

Ruling PTI's financial experts reviewed PML-N's accounts

ISLAMABAD:

The scrutiny committee of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday held an in-camera proceeding in the foreign funding case against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) filed by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

The session was held under deputy director law and secretary.On the behalf of PML-N, Raja Riaz and advocate Jahangir Jadoon appeared before the scrutiny committee.

The financial experts deputed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Najam ul-Saqib and Jamal Abdul Nasser, perused the accounts of the opposition party.Another session of the scrutiny panel is slated for Tuesday morning (today) that will resume the perusal until a comprehensive report could be prepared.

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Similarly, in the second phase, the panel will begin the proceedings for the accounts of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).On October 14, the ECP allowed the ruling PTI to peruse documents related to foreign funding cases against the opposition PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

A two-member bench of the commission comprising Nisar Ahmad Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi accepted the application filed by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib seeking access to the accounts of the two major opposition parties at a hearing of the foreign funding case.

Farrukh has alleged that PML-N had concealed seven accounts while the PPP had hidden 12 accounts from the ECP. He requested the commission to give the ruling party access to the financial accounts of both parties for a ‘meaningful audit’.