Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought replies in Imran Khan disqualification and PTI party funding cases on July 6 and July 10 respectively.
A four members bench of ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza took up for hearing the disqualification case of Imran Khan on Thursday. During the course of hearing, Shahid Gondal counsel for Imran Khan appeared before ECP and presented the order of Supreme Court, issued on June 13.
Shahid Gondal advocate informed that SC had already heard counsel for Election Commission and ECP has adjourned the case filed by Akbar S Babar against PTI indefinitely. Gondal further said the petitions filed by Hashim Ali Bhutta and Akbar S Babr against PTI were of identical nature therefore hearing of Hashim Bhutta case against PTI chief should also be adjourned for indefinite period .
EC commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza said, ‘We are ready to adjourn the case for indefinite period but reply should be filed first of all’. On the other hand, Counsel for Hashim Bhutta while opposing adjournment of hearing of Hashim case against Imran Khan for indefinite period said that their petition was far different from Akbar S Babr petition.
Later counsel for Imran Khan sought more time from ECP for filing reply in the matter of collecting funds through illegal means and ECP gave time to file reply till July 6. PTI party funding case came up for hearing before ECP. This petition has been filed by Akbar S Babar against PTI. During the course of hearing, counsel for Akbar S Babar took the plea that SC has given no decision in Hanif Abbasi case in ECP regarding PTI foreign funding case .
On it Counsel for PTI said in party funding case we have challenged the jurisdiction of ECP in Islamabad High Court. The CEC said that if high court had issued any stay order then it should be presented. SC will decide either ECP has jurisdiction to hear party funding case or otherwise. We have already given our judgment upon the matter of jurisdiction.
Counsel for Akbar S Babar said PTI is using every tact for not providing details regarding party funding. On it the election commissioner remarked if PTI wants that ECP does not hear party funding case then it should present high court stay order. Counsel for Imran Khan once again sought time from ECP on filing reply in foreign funding case. ECP while ordering PTI counsel to provide details in party foreign funding case adjourned the hearing of this case till July 10.
