Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Counsel Advocate Anwar Mansoor didn’t budge an inch from his contention as he stressed that both Supreme Court of Pakistan and Election Commission of Pakistan lack the jurisdiction to sit on judgment pertaining to alleged foreign funding of the party before Supreme Court bench here on Thursday.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar-led three member bench while hearing the petitions filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi seeking disqualification of Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen had previously on Wednesday hinted at making Election Commission of Pakistan as a commission to look into the matter and thoroughly probe the claims of PTI that no foreign funding was ever received by the party.
Previously, on Wednesday hearing, PTI Counsel Anwar Mansoor was seen struggling to convince the bench when he argued that the issue of foreign funding belonged to the past and couldn’t be reopened.
However, on Thursday, Advocate Mansoor contended that the power to open and investigate matters pertaining to foreign funding of parties did lie with the government adding that an individual alone could not challenge the accounts of a political party. ‘PTI also plans to challenge the recent decision of Election Commission. The government can investigate the matter and send a reference in this regard,’ he argued.
Replying to a query of a bench about his client’s opinion if Supreme Court refers the whole matter to Election Commission, Advocate Mansoor said that Imran Khan was out of town and after consultation with him he would be able to answer the question.
CJP Mian Saqib Nisar while granting time to Advocate Mansoor reminded him that the court hasn’t accepted the arguments forwarded by the counsel about ineligibility of an individual to bring party funds into question.
The petition filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi accused PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Jehangir Tareen of accepting foreign funding for the party and concealment of assets. Interestingly, so far the PTI lawyers have questioned the very admissibility of the petitions, raised reservations on the jurisdiction of Supreme Court and Election Commission to hear the cases.
The Supreme Court took up the case days after Panama Case verdict was announced by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa led 5-member bench where it was recommended to form a Joint Investigation Team to probe the matter of Sharif family’s foreign assets.
The bench adjourned the hearing till Tuesday May 23 when PTI Counsel will apprise the court after consulting with Imran Khan.
