PTI told to submit financial records by Sept 11 in foreign funding case

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan(ECP) on Thursday directed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to submit its financial records by September 11, in a case regarding foreign funding of the party.

The ECP was hearing a petition filed by former PTI member Akbar S Babar.

During the proceedings, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Muhammad Raza said that PTI’s defiance to comply with orders was beyond his understanding.

“Why is PTI reluctant to implement ECP’s orders?” the CEC asked to which the PTI counsel replied that the matter was being considered by the Supreme Court. Sardar Raza told the lawyer that the ECP would stop proceedings in the case if the SC issues a stay order in this regard.

Adjourning the hearing till September 11, the CEC asserted that ECP is giving a final chance to the party for submission of the records.

Interestingly, in its previous hearing, ECP had directed the party to submit the entire record pertaining to the party’s funding until September 7.

The party has failed to submit details of its accounts and funds to the ECP for the past two years, however, it has submitted the records to the Supreme Court.

PTI lawyer Anwar Masood had requested for discontinuation of the party’s foreign funding case in the ECP on the premise that a similar case is also being heard in the Supreme Court — in which the ECP is a respondent.