Election Committee of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved his verdict in the case of the long drawn-out prohibited funding case, formerly known as the foreign funding case, against PTI.
The case filed party founding member Akbar S. Babar, pending November 14, 2014 Babar, who no longer connected with PTI presumably serious financial violations in in party funding from Pakistan and abroad.
PTI denies any wrongdoing and maintains that the funding is not from prohibited sources.
BUT bench under the chairmanship of the Chief Electoral Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja. over today’s hearing. CEC Raja noted that the case against PTI concluded by adding that the election observer also wanted close cases against other political parties.
He left on say that ekp wanted restore voter confidence and strengthen the country democratically. Finally of hearing, the commission reserved its verdict in case, but the CEC Raja said that the defendants could be called again if need to be.
During today’s hearing petitioner Babara financial expert, Arsalan Vardak, noted out that it was “installed fact” what money was received from the UK. He also stressed that no one knew of origins of in money received from Canada.
“The funds were received from Wootton Cricket Limited. for who were given a registration number. Another $49,000 was received from another company. in United Arab Emirates,” he said, adding that PTI does not deny receiving these funds.
financial expert also stressed that some details were missing from the lists of donors. “PTI received funds from 13 countries […] There is no record of 20 million rupees received at the meeting of the chairman of the PTI office,” he said.
Wardak said that 41 of 50 banks did not respond to the requests of the control commission, indicating out possibility of more existing accounts. PTI ignored principles and standards of audit, he claimed.
He claimed that the donations were made from PTI’s own companies instead of third-party companies.
When Babar took stand, he said for very first time in countries history political party provided details of its financing of the election commission. All political parties should be accountable to the ESP,” he said.
January 4 is the year the ECP Supervisory Committee formed in March 2018 to study foreign funding for PTI. in one month, finally submitted its report after 95 hearings and almost four years.
Report based on eight volumes of record requisitioned through the State Bank of Pakistan, proved that the leadership of PTI committed gross violations of funding laws, allowing collection of millions of dollars and billions of rupees without any source and information from foreigners, including Indian citizens and foreign companies.
“Do you want PTI to be role model’
Speaking to media outside ECP, Babar welcomed fact what a sentence in the case was finally reserved. He also thanked those who standing next to him in in fight for justice, especially his lawyers and his team.
“Target of it’s from the day one was to do PTI role model […] That’s why we fought this case. I didn’t have a personal [grudge] or ego [issue]“, he said, adding that he devoted many years to the formation of PTI.
“Change happens automatically after you become role modelBabar said. on to say it for in first time in Pakistan historyFounders of political party came forward to do this role model for other.
He said he hoped the CEP would prevent this “significant event”. pass by adding what he has chance change course of Pakistani politics.
“They (ECP) have evidence, they have arguments […] do not look at whether the leader or not of political party popular or not […] give a decision by law and constitution with in full force of law.”
Meanwhile, Farrukh Khabib from PTI called. on ECP to comply with directives issued by the Supreme Court and High Court of Islamabad. He also urged the panel to complete hearings on PML-N and PPP.
“We have been hearing for seven years that this is a foreign funding case. […] but ESP also eventually admitted fact that this was the case of prohibited funding,” he said.
He also said that party provided all records in case, emphasizing that money received through banking channels.
