ECP to announce foreign funding verdict today; security alert

The judgment in the prohibited foreign funding case, which has been pending for the last eight years in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), will be pronounced today (Tuesday, August 02) at 10:00 am.
Federal Interior Ministry has decided to appoint the rangers outside the ECP office and the red zone in Islamabad to avert any untoward incident.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, the foreign funding case against the PTI and its Chairman Imran Khan was filed in the ECP by Akbar S Babar, the founder member of the party.

During the eight years of proceedings, the PTI sought 30 adjournments while it filed petitions 6 times for the case to be inadmissible or beyond the commission's jurisdiction.

The commission directed the PTI to provide documents and financial records 21 times while the PTI changed nine lawyers throughout the proceedings.

The ECP set up a Scrutiny Committee in March 2018 to probe PTI foreign funding, which held 95 meetings in which PTI filed 4 petitions against the petitioner's presence on the committee.
In November 2021, the ECP's Scrutiny Committee submitted an audit report on PTI's funds on which the commission reserved the decision on June 21.

High Alert in Islamabad

According to sources, the Interior Ministry has planned deployment of the Rangers and anti-riots force to man the ECP office and the red zone in Islamabad.
While instructions have been issued to the Islamabad Police to tighten the security of the red zone. As per the decision, no party workers will be allowed around the ECP.

Reporters: Usman Khan, Awais Kiyani