Funding of political parties: ECP files 165-page report to IHC 

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has filed a progress report to Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding the scrutiny of funding of the political parties including the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Saturday. 

The ECP submitted a 165-page report to the IHC. Thus, it has removed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf's objection regarding the unnecessary delay in the scrutiny of funding of other political parties.  

According to the report, frequent change of advocates, adjournment applications, and non-availability of scrutiny members are cited as major reasons for the delay.

The change in the members of the Scrutiny Committee was also a reason for the delay, the report said. 

The report disclosed that a committee member went for a course and it took four months to have his replacement and the committee became inactive due to the retirement of Deputy Auditor General Masood Akhtar on December 13, 2021.  “The Corona resurgence also affected the process.” 

A member of the committee was on leave from July 16 to Sep 17, 2021, due to open heart surgery. Likewise, Manzoor A. Malik was on Umrah leave from Oct 24 to Nov 17, 2022. Hasnat Malik has been appointed as a member of the committee in place of Khurram Raza Qureshi’s long leaves, the report reveals.  

The election commission has provided a level playing field to all political parties without any discrimination, it added. 

Several meetings of the Scrutiny Committee were held from July 31, 2018 to January 16, 2023. No political party can say that only it is being scrutinized by the Election Commission. The reservations of the petitioner are baseless and contrary to facts, Election Commission said in its report. 

Scrutiny of funds of 19 political parties on the request of Aamir Kayani has also been made a part of the report, it disclosed. 

Reporter: Ehtisham Kiyani