While listening to the arguments of the lawyer for Akbar S Babar in the foreign funding case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the chief election commissioner (CEC) said Monday why would the PTI provide a fake list of donors despite knowing it would be looked into and ascertained, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
During the hearing of the case, the lawyer for the Akbar S Babar said: “To date, the PTI has not been able to respond to the funding from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).”
He questioned, “How is money coming from the countries where politics is not allowed?” and added those who wanted to hold everyone accountable did not want to present themselves for accountability.
He stated that the PTI did not answer the transaction of money into the accounts of the four employees, adding that the PTI also did not recognise five of the 28 accounts.
The lawyer for Akbar S Babar further maintained that at least $30,000 had been transferred to the account of the PTI from the account of an Indian banker named Romita Shetty.
The assistant lawyer for the PTI replied to the accusation of the transaction of $30,000 and said: “The funds were donated by Nasir, husband of Romita Shetty, and he is a Pakistani citizen.”
The lawyer for Akbar S Babar further alleged that the PTI attempted to tamper with the record of donations in 2017.
At this, the chief election commissioner questioned why would the PTI provide a fake list of donors despite knowing it would be looked into and ascertained properly.
“Besides, the year 2017 is not related to this case anyway,” he added.
The lawyer for Akbar S Babar further argued, “The formation of an international political party is not allowed in the law of the country,” and added that the election commission should seek all the information which was not provided.
Reporter: Usman Khan