Babar demands investigation into PTI’s undeclared foreign bank accounts

Accounts may be used for anti-state activities, claims estranged PTI leader

ISLAMABAD:

PTI's estranged founding member Akbar S Babar demanded on Monday an investigation into the party's 'secret' foreign bank accounts.

Babar, in a letter to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, wrote that no action was taken even after the verdict on the PTI foreign funding case which was announced 20 months back.

He added that legal action against PTI's foreign bank accounts was still awaited alleging that "the accounts may be used for anti-state activities".

“Despite PTI’s illegal foreign funding being proved, no action to protect the national security of Pakistan was worrisome,” said Babar in the letter. 

He also asserted that all provisions of the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) August 2022 order must be implemented. Terming the secret foreign bank accounts a 'crime', the estranged PTI leader demanded accountability.

Read: FIR in prohibited funding case silent on Imran’s role

In a long-awaited verdict on PTI's prohibited funding, the ECP in August 2022 ruled that the party of former prime minister Imran Khan did indeed receive illegal funding

A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja announced the verdict in a case filed by Akbar S Babar which had been pending since November 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.

"The office is also directed to initiate any other action under the law, in light of this order of the Commission," said the 68-page judgement.

The electoral watchdog also declared that 13 'unknown' accounts have been found linked to the party and the submissions by PTI chief Imran Khan were 'inaccurate and wrong'.