PTI accounts may be scrutinised again

ECP reserves decision on plea claiming prohibited funding still taking place

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its decision on a petition seeking scrutinising once again the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf accounts.

A two-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the prohibited funding case against the PTI.

During the proceedings, petitioner Khalid Mehmood Advocate appeared before the bench, claiming that the PTI was still receiving funds from abroad.

“Even after the ECP’s 2022 decision, the series of prohibited funding continues.”

On Aug 2 that year, the ECP had finally announced its ruling in the long-awaited, cliffhanger case of the PTI's prohibited funding, ruling that the party did indeed receive illegal funding. It had also issued a notice to the PTI asking why the funds should not be confiscated.

A three-member ECP bench, headed by CEC Raja, had announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI’s founding member Akbar S Babar which had been pending since Nov 14, 2014.

In its written order, the ECP said the political party received millions of dollars in illegal funds from foreign countries, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and Australia.

Read also: Yasmin Rashid, other PTI leaders indicted in May 9 riots case

During the hearing on Tuesday, Advocate Mehmood said, “There are about 100 donors whose identity card numbers are fake in the funding coming from London to the Tehreek-e-Insaf.”

CEC Raja inquired as to how the petitioner came to know that foreign funding was still taking place.

Advocate Mehmood said that he came to know through the PTI and FARA websites, adding that on the basis of the current evidence, the accounts of PTI should be scrutinised once again.

The Election Commission reserved its decision regarding whether the petition is admissible or not.

Further, the ECP will hear important cases on Nov 23 and 28.

Hearing of contempt cases against the PTI chairman, Asad Umar, and Fawad Chaudhry are scheduled for Nov 23. The commission has summoned Imran, Umar, and Fawad in person. Indictment proceedings against them will be held.

The hearing of the case to remove Imran as the party chairman will be held on Nov 28.