ECP throws out PTI’s adjournment plea in foreign funding case

The Election Commission of Pakistan has thrown out plea by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf seeking adjournment of the foreign funding case against it, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The Election Commission held hearing of the foreign funding case against the PTI on Tuesday. The PTI requested the commission to adjourn the hearing of the case. But Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja rejected the PTI plea saying the case had already been sub judice for the last 7 years and the party had been seeking delays again and again. 

PTI’s lawyers Anwar Mansoor did not appear before the court. His assistant lawyer attended the hearing. He told the commission that Mr Mansoor had reached Islamabad from Karachi but he was suffering from high fever and could not attend the hearing. 

On this, the CEC remarked that during last hearing, Mr Mansoor told the commission that he was going abroad but he was still in Karachi. 

CEC Sultan Raja while expressing his annoyance over further delays told the PTI assistant lawyer that the commission could not give more time to the ruling party. 

The lawyer told the ECP that the party had submitted its reply on the scrutiny committee report. 

After this, the election commission put off hearing till March 17 and directed the PTI lawyer to give his arguments.

Marriyum Aurangzeb accuses PTI of money-laundering

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb Tuesday blamed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for receiving foreign funding and doing money-laundering from 2008 to 2013, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

During a media talk in Islamabad, the PML-N information secretary said that the PTI sought the accountability of others’ 40 years, but it was not ready to be held accountable for its deeds between 2008 and 2013.

The PML-N leader also alleged that the PTI submitted fake documents to the Election Commission. “The details of the funds received by PML-N have been submitted to the Election Commission which the latter verifies every year,” she claimed.

“To date, the PTI has only levelled allegations against others. The Election Commission should immediately decide the foreign funding case,” she stressed.

“Akbar S Babar had filed the petition accusing the PTI of receiving foreign funding. He has been following the case for seven years,” said the PML-N information secretary.

“There have now been at least 75 hearings in the foreign funding case. The PTI did not declare the accounts opened in the name of its employees. But the money kept coming into the personal accounts of PTI employees,” alleged Marriyum Aurangzeb.

‘Time has arrived for a verdict in foreign funding case’

Akbar S Babar, petitioner in the foreign funding case against the PTI, said that he was satisfied with hearing of the case.

“The PTI has failed to prove that at whose behest I am doing all this,” he said.

“Why did Imran Khan receive funding from Indians? The time has now arrived to decide the foreign funding case,” he emphasised and added that the Election Commission had set March 17 as the next date of hearing.

“The government has led the country to chaos that the nation can no longer tolerate,” he stated.

“What the government is doing will cause dangers. They will threaten the national security,” he expressed his concern.

Reporter Usman Khan