Larger bench to hear PTI's appeal against ECP's prohibited funding verdict

The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday decided to form a larger bench on the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)'s prohibited funding case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Acting Chief Justice Aamir Farooq heard the PTI’s petition against the electoral watchdog's verdict which had ruled that the party did indeed receive illegal funding while issuing a notice to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.

In its plea, filed by the party's additional secretary general Omar Ayyub, the PTI had requested the IHC to declare the ECP’s decision, delivered on August 2, illegal.

Moreover, the PTI had called for the decision to be annulled along with the show cause notice sent to the party for not declaring 13 'unknown' accounts that were found linked to it.

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The application had been filed through former Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan, lawyer Shah Khawar and Faisal Fareed.

During the proceedings today, PTI’s lawyer Anwar Mansoor pleaded to the court that no action be taken against the party “to the extent of issuing a show cause notice”.

“This matter will also be heard by the larger bench,” remarked the judge.

Subsequently, the court directed the case to be fixed before a larger bench and adjourned the hearing till August 18.

Earlier this month the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had formed a five-member special monitoring team, expanding the scope of inquiry into the prohibited funding case against the former ruling party to the entire country.

The PTI had moved court against the FIA for taking action following the ECP's verdict in the prohibited funding case. However, the IHC had later disposed of the petition.