Funding case: ECP gives PTI ‘last chance’
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) two more weeks to file a response to a case involving a funding ban. This is your “last chance” to explain your position on money received from abroad, donor.
A four-member bench headed by Election Commission (CEC) chairman Sikandar Sultan Raja took up the issue on Tuesday. Senior counsel Shah Khawar, who was unable to attend a recent hearing due to a higher court appointment, explained that his lengthy detention prevented the parties from obtaining relevant information requested by the commission.
He said the party had received information about the donor from its overseas chapters and would respond after success. “We need to get information from the party’s foreign ministry. We want to provide the appropriate documentation,” he asked for two more weeks. He said he has sought a comprehensive response on the National Identity Card (NICOP) of overseas Pakistanis and other documents from Pakistani donors.
An ECP member from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) then asked Khawar how long the embezzlement case remained pending. A PTI lawyer said it has been going on for eight years and party members joked that the party wants to extend it for another eight years.
The CEC also said that the party should take into account that there are still two weeks to go. He asked PTI to file a reply for consideration of evidence at the next hearing.
On August 2, the ECP delivered a long-awaited judgment in the Banned Funds Case (formerly known as the Foreign Funds Case) and the PTI issued a statement clarifying its stand on the receipt of banned funds. “Therefore, the Commission directs the respondent to file a show cause notice under Rule 6 of the Political Parties Rule (PPR) 2002 showing why the above prohibited funds should not be withheld.
Funding case: ECP gives PTI ‘last chance’
The ECP said in the 70-page order that it was “ordered to take further legal action pursuant to this commission’s order, including referring the matter to the federal government.” However, the commission was heavily criticized by the PTI and the public for the inconsistency of the verdict. Many overseas Pakistanis denounced the election organization as foreign donors on electronic and social media.
Although the ECP Order contained details of funds received by PTI from around 34 foreigners and 351 foreign companies, the records of funds provided by the ECP in the judgment were strongly contested by Overseas Pakistanis along with several companies when referring to the organizations foreign donors. submitted Turned out to be an overseas Pakistani.
