- Five-member ECP bench gives PTI until June 22 to submit records in party funding case
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s response to a contempt of court case filed against him and gave him another chance to submit a fresh reply within the week.
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry had submitted Imran’s response to the ECP bench, prompting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Muhammad Raza to ask the counsel to review his client’s response. “The matter of contempt of court is actually a case of misunderstanding,” the spokesperson said.
“After reviewing the response, it is clear that Imran Khan has taken back the review petition; however, he has yet to apologise,” the CEC responded. “Even the person who drafted this application has also apologised,” he insisted. “I don’t think the counsel has even read the application,” he replied.
“So you’re giving a lawyer the benefit of the doubt, but not Imran Khan,” Fawad quipped. “This case was one of misunderstanding and should be forgiven,” he insisted. “We have forgiven anyone who has sought forgiveness until today,” the CEC responded.
The ECP then proceeded to rejecting the PTI chairman’s response and giving him time to submit a fresh one by June 7. “Imran Khan can even choose to adjust his submitted response,” the ECP said. Representing PTI, Shahid Gondal requested the ECP to initiate a contempt of court case against Daniyal Aziz.
“We will look into the matter when we receive your application in front of us,” the CEC stated. A former PTI leader Akbar Babar had filed a case against the party leader for casting aspersions against the Election Commission, following which the body issued a notice to Imran Khan. The court was adjourned till June 7.
PARTY FUNDING CASE: Hearing PTI’s party funding case, a five-member ECP bench, headed by the CEC, issued the verdict that the commission has the right to investigate party funding matter, additionally giving PTI until June 22 to submit its records to the commission. The Election Commission reserves the complete authority to investigate party bank accounts, the detailed judgement read.
The ECP also reserves the right to take suo moto notice on any matter, it said. The Election Commission also stated that the political parties’ bank statements were not meant to be kept in bank vaults, but were meant to be scrutinised. “PTI has been trying its level best to make sure that their bank accounts cannot be scrutinised. If their accounts are clean and free of any wrongdoing, then what is the matter with investigating them?” the verdict by the ECP read.
“Our colleague, Anwar Mansoor, couldn’t make it today as his flight was delayed,” Advocate Faisal Chaudhry told the commission. Clarifying the ECP’s status on the issue, the CEC said that the Supreme Court has asked for records regarding PTI’s funding, which the commission has provided. “Is it safe to assume that the Supreme Court is in the mood to announce a verdict?” he asked the counsel.
“The Supreme Court is definitely ready to announce a verdict,” Faisal responded. “Whatever decision the Supreme Court makes is going make will be very important,” the CEC said. “We are ready to give PTI some more time to submit more records.” The ECP postponed the party funding hearing till June 22 after asking the party to submit more details.
