Scrutiny of foreign funding case: ECP rejects PTI's 4 applications concerning secrecy

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday rejected four applications of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking secrecy in the scrutiny of the foreign funding case against the party, and directed the scrutiny body to go ahead with the probe.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Mohammad Raza while announcing the reserved judgment, also instructed the representatives of concerned parties including PTI to appear before the committee on October 14 (Monday), besides directing the scrutiny committee to continue its investigation into the case.

On the applications filed with the ECP, the PTI's counsel had stated that that 'false' speculations on the media were meant to defame the party's reputation and had urged the ECP to ensure prevention of information leakage.

Akbar S Babar, the founding member of PTI, had filed the case in 2014, alleging that nearly $3 million illegal foreign funds were collected through two offshore companies and that funds were sent through illegal 'Hundi' channels from the Middle East to accounts of 'PTI employees.'

Babar had also alleged that the foreign accounts used to collect the funds were concealed from the annual audit reports submitted to the ECP. Upon the allegations, the ECP has formulated a scrutiny committee in March 2018 to complete the scrutiny of PTI's funding sources in one month; however, its mandate was later extended for an indefinite period.

Talking to media persons after the ECP announced its judgment, Akbar S Babar alleged the PTI for using delaying tactics. However, he vowed to pursue the case till its logical conclusion. He also clarified that he does not have any personal grudge with PTI chairman and Prime Minister Imran Khan. "But it is the matter of principle, what we as PTI founders had placed for others, should also be applicable on us," he said, alleging the PTI leadership for neglecting the founding principles of the party.

The bench on October 1 had reserved its judgment when it resumed hearing on the case after a gap of one-and-a-half-year. The development surfaced at a time when the CEC and the federal government are entangled in serious differences following the CEC's refusal to administer oath to two newly appointed ECP members Khalid Mahmood Siddiqui from Sindh and Munir Ahmad Kakar from Balochistan, citing the violation of the Constitution in the appointment of these two members by the government.

In the light of the relevant electoral laws in Pakistan, foreign funded political parties are not allowed to exist and any such political party be dissolved.

The Section 15 of Political Parties Order 2002 reads, "Dissolution of a political party- Where the Federal Government is satisfied that a political party is a foreign-aided party or has been formed or is operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan or is 66 indulging in terrorism, it shall make such declaration by a notification in the official Gazette-Within fifteen days of making a declaration- the Federal Government shall refer the matter to the Supreme Court whose decision on such reference shall be final-where the Supreme Court upholds the declaration made against a political party under clause- such party shall stand dissolved forthwith."

The Section 4 (1) (f) of the same Order reads "-a political party shall not-be formed, organize, set-up or convened as a foreign-aided political party."

In addition, the political parties are required to share with the ECP the details of their assets and liabilities.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to file a separate case with the ECP, seeking scrutiny of the PTI's foreign funding sources.

It is reportedly said that an application has been submitted by the PML-N with the ECP and it has sought complete details of bank accounts held by the PTI from the years 2013 to 2018.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019