In a major development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to hear an important case regarding the funding of three major political parties of Pakistan - the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) - on Thursday (June 20).
The ECP has issued notices to the representatives of all the three political parties to appear before the Special Scrutiny Committee of the ECP at the office of Director General (Law) Muhammad Arshad at the ECP headquarters at 2:30pm on the given date, it is learnt.
PTI's Member National Assembly (MNA) Farrukh Habib had moved ECP with the petition to have the funding details of PML-N and PPP scrutinised accusing both parties of being foreign-funded whereas former PTI member Akbar S Babar had also moved ECP alleging that PTI is a foreign-funded party and its funding details be scrutinised.
Taking stock of the matter, Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza (retd) formed a Special Scrutiny Committee that has now decided to summon all the three political parties, sources in the ECP told Business Recorder.
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. 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, organise, set-up or convened as a foreign-aided political party."
However, the political parties in Pakistan are allowed to receive donations are funds from individuals from abroad but not from any foreign group, organisation or government.
The Section 6 (3) reads, "Any contribution made, directly or indirectly, by any foreign government, multinational or domestically incorporated public or private company, firm, trade or professional association shall be prohibited and the parties may accept contributions and donations only from individuals."
In addition, the political parties are required to share with the ECP the details of their assets and liabilities.
The Section 13 of Political Parties Order 2002 states, "Information about the sources of party's fund - Every political party shall, in such manner and in such form as may be prescribed or specified by the Chief Election Commissioner, submit to the Election Commission, within sixty days from the close of each financial year, a consolidated statement of accounts of the party audited by a Chartered Accountant containing- (a) annual income and expenses; (b) sources of its funds; and (c) assets and liabilities-The statement-shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by the party leader stating that- (a) no funds from any source prohibited under this Order were received by the party; and (b) the statement contains an accurate financial position of the party."