Bewal Express
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So why did they not follow the SC guidelines on all 3 parties.
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Contact the PP Team
End of PTI and Imran Khan? : In a unanimous verdict, ECP rules PTI received prohibited funds
- Thread starter daytrader
- Start date
So why did they not follow the SC guidelines on all 3 parties.
Bewal Express
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Straws and clutching. This was supposed to be your smoking gun, instead the only smoke is coming from the orifices of the mafia. Total humiliation
He has been taking money from an indian origin women aswell. Damnn.. and they used to acuse mqm of this.
So time to apply al min and al saddiq on immy the liar aswell?
In Supreme courts full bench we trust
IMMY69
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You must know by now that I try not to engage directly with supporters of crooks.
Experience has taught me to sit back and enjoy your/their humiliation.
Major
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because you dont want to be challenge when you make rants that just because someone doesnt let pti off the hook they are corrupt.
easy to pass such comments, in the court of law you can be charged. Bring proof before making allegations against ECP
Bewal Express
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Here is a proof. The SC said that all 3 parties must be investigated at the Same time and results released. Can you tell us why the ECP didn't do this? [MENTION=491]IMMY69[/MENTION] watch him run. Lol
Cpt. Rishwat
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Pakistan's next govt will agree that their next govt is dependent on Hindotva benevolence I would think. Similar to what happened to BD and SL. I don't see too much progress in either on the ground sadly. They still look the same as the majoirity of the Indian subcontinent.
Bewal Express
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This is such a poorly constructed blackmail attempt that's its not even funny. I don't think you realise how stupid you guys look. In any court worth it's salt, it would be thrown out in 5 minutes
Major
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Ur about to have an indian origin pm, if i were you, i would worry about that more than pakistans politics
WhenSultansBowled
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Man, Election Commission of Pakistan is a bunch of morons. Especially their chieftain is an authentic idiot.
ECP have put a target on Mrs. Aziz. The extremists who run India won't leave her in peace next time she visits her family in India.
Truly pathetic behavior.
PTI foreign funding case explained
The case started when Mr. Akber Sher Babar decided to part ways with Imran Khan in 2014 and filed a petition in the Election Commission of Pakistan against PTI for receiving funds from prohibited sources.
The case started as a foreign funding case instead of prohibited funding case and PTI Chairman Imran Khan remained under media trial and was alleged to be a “Yahoodi agent” (Jews’ agent) due to receiving funds from foreign sources. However, later the case was turned into prohibited funding case.
Kim Ghum Ri goes on to explain the spirit of the law that prohibits political parties from receiving funds from public or private companies. A political party is barred from receiving funds from public or private companies so that their decisions cannot be influenced when they are in power
The reasons that the decision of ECP in PTI foreign funding case is flawed, according to Kim Ghum Ri, are as follow.
Post 9/11, international transfer of funds is strictly scrutinized and raising, collecting or transferring funds with incorporating a registered company is prohibited. Hence, if PTI raised any funds overseas from Pakistani diaspora, it had to incorporate a company registered in the respective country to raise the funds. PTI then transferred the funds to PTIs overseas account and then transferred them to Pakistan in a lawful manner.
Decision of ECP to declare these funds unlawful implies that PTI cannot fund PTI, just like a few days back Dost Mazari’s ruling prohibited Pervez Ilahi from voting for himself. ECP decision is based on the premise that because the funds were transferred to PTIs accounts from foreign registered companies, hence the funding is illegal. What the ECP needs to understand is that there is no other way of raising funds from overseas Pakistanis.
Even the affidavits submitted by Wootton Cricket Limited and Bristol Engineering Services clarifying that their accounts were just used to transfer the funds, while the funds were raised through fund-raising events, are not enough satisfy ECP.
Kim Ghum Ri then explains the affidavit by Imran Khan, which might be used to try him under article 62 of the constitution. Imran Khan cannot be tried under article 62 due to that particular affidavit even if it proves to be wrong because he signed on an audited account presented by an auditing firm and understanding and checking such audits require elaborate accountancy knowledge.
Having elaborate accountancy knowledge is clearly not a requirement to hold a political position or public office.
Kim Ghum Ri then explains the affidavit by Imran Khan, which might be used to try him under article 62 of the constitution. Imran Khan cannot be tried under article 62 due to that particular affidavit even if it proves to be wrong because he signed on an audited account presented by an auditing firm and understanding and checking such audits require elaborate accountancy knowledge.
Having elaborate accountancy knowledge is clearly not a requirement to hold a political position or public office.
Kim Ghum Ri concludes that the verdict by ECP is not only flawed, it is against the spirit of law. ECP twisted the law to decide against PTI and Imran Khan.
https://www.globalvillagespace.com/pti-foreign-funding-case-explained/
The case started when Mr. Akber Sher Babar decided to part ways with Imran Khan in 2014 and filed a petition in the Election Commission of Pakistan against PTI for receiving funds from prohibited sources.
The case started as a foreign funding case instead of prohibited funding case and PTI Chairman Imran Khan remained under media trial and was alleged to be a “Yahoodi agent” (Jews’ agent) due to receiving funds from foreign sources. However, later the case was turned into prohibited funding case.
Kim Ghum Ri goes on to explain the spirit of the law that prohibits political parties from receiving funds from public or private companies. A political party is barred from receiving funds from public or private companies so that their decisions cannot be influenced when they are in power
The reasons that the decision of ECP in PTI foreign funding case is flawed, according to Kim Ghum Ri, are as follow.
Post 9/11, international transfer of funds is strictly scrutinized and raising, collecting or transferring funds with incorporating a registered company is prohibited. Hence, if PTI raised any funds overseas from Pakistani diaspora, it had to incorporate a company registered in the respective country to raise the funds. PTI then transferred the funds to PTIs overseas account and then transferred them to Pakistan in a lawful manner.
Decision of ECP to declare these funds unlawful implies that PTI cannot fund PTI, just like a few days back Dost Mazari’s ruling prohibited Pervez Ilahi from voting for himself. ECP decision is based on the premise that because the funds were transferred to PTIs accounts from foreign registered companies, hence the funding is illegal. What the ECP needs to understand is that there is no other way of raising funds from overseas Pakistanis.
Even the affidavits submitted by Wootton Cricket Limited and Bristol Engineering Services clarifying that their accounts were just used to transfer the funds, while the funds were raised through fund-raising events, are not enough satisfy ECP.
Kim Ghum Ri then explains the affidavit by Imran Khan, which might be used to try him under article 62 of the constitution. Imran Khan cannot be tried under article 62 due to that particular affidavit even if it proves to be wrong because he signed on an audited account presented by an auditing firm and understanding and checking such audits require elaborate accountancy knowledge.
Having elaborate accountancy knowledge is clearly not a requirement to hold a political position or public office.
Kim Ghum Ri then explains the affidavit by Imran Khan, which might be used to try him under article 62 of the constitution. Imran Khan cannot be tried under article 62 due to that particular affidavit even if it proves to be wrong because he signed on an audited account presented by an auditing firm and understanding and checking such audits require elaborate accountancy knowledge.
Having elaborate accountancy knowledge is clearly not a requirement to hold a political position or public office.
Kim Ghum Ri concludes that the verdict by ECP is not only flawed, it is against the spirit of law. ECP twisted the law to decide against PTI and Imran Khan.
https://www.globalvillagespace.com/pti-foreign-funding-case-explained/
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Reminder that this is an unfounded allegation and a serious one.
The source being used by you is a well-known pro PDM source so settle down a bit.
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The heads of the component parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the ruling alliance will meet in Islamabad today (Wednesday) to discuss the prevailing political and economic situation of the country.
A summit meeting of the coalition government and PDM parties will be held at Prime Minister’s House. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman will chair the session.
ECP verdict on PTI prohibited funding will also come under discussion during tomorrow’s meeting, said sources.
In today’s meeting, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has appointed the heads of the political and legal committees to recommend action against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the announcement of the prohibited funding case by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
PDM leadership has constituted the political and legal committees to seek recommendations for an action against the PTI following ECP’s verdict in the prohibited funding case.
The ruling coalition agreed on taking strict decisions on the political and legal fronts against Imran Khan-led PTI. The legal committee comprised on experts from all PDM parties will forward its recommendations to take action against PTI.
A summit meeting of the coalition government and PDM parties will be held at Prime Minister’s House. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman will chair the session.
ECP verdict on PTI prohibited funding will also come under discussion during tomorrow’s meeting, said sources.
In today’s meeting, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has appointed the heads of the political and legal committees to recommend action against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the announcement of the prohibited funding case by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
PDM leadership has constituted the political and legal committees to seek recommendations for an action against the PTI following ECP’s verdict in the prohibited funding case.
The ruling coalition agreed on taking strict decisions on the political and legal fronts against Imran Khan-led PTI. The legal committee comprised on experts from all PDM parties will forward its recommendations to take action against PTI.
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In April 2017, the PML-N celebrated the verdict in the Panama Papers’ case without realising what it entailed for them. “Celebrations,” PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz had tweeted and shared photos of her father Nawaz Sharif, uncle Shehbaz Sharif and other party leaders, who were all smile and jubilant over the Supreme Court’s split decision which neither gave a clean chit nor disqualified the former prime minister but ordered the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the case further.
The PML-N didn’t realise back then that it was just calm before the storm; it massively downplayed the decision, and Ahsan Iqbal had declared it “a historic victory”. Conversely, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had chided the PML-N leadership, saying they didn’t seem to have read the full judgment and haven’t realised what has actually happened to them. Former financial czar Asad Umar had tweeted that “not a single judge found Nawaz Sharif innocent”. Nevertheless, the Panama case judgment made both the PML-N and the PTI ecstatic and they celebrated it.
Fast forward to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s Tuesday’s decision found that the PTI received funding from prohibited sources; it got funds from 34 foreign nationals and 351 foreign-based companies; it hid 13 accounts; and Form-1 submitted by PTI Chairman Imran Khan is “grossly inaccurate”. The ECP also issued a notice to the PTI to explain why funds shouldn’t be confiscated.
Surprisingly, the PML-N and the PTI have once again celebrated the ECP’s judgment; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif terming it a charge-sheet against Imran Khan while the PTI leadership downplaying the verdict just like the PML-N did in the Panama case.
Following the ECP judgment, Fawad defended the PTI chairman by saying that Imran Khan only signed audited accounts when he was told that all the accounts were legal. While blaming the accountants, Fawad said how Imran Khan could have declared hidden accounts when he was not even aware about them, saying the PTI chief simply believed his accountants. Asad Umar said that people trust Imran Khan and that’s why they sent their money to him, adding there was no threat to Imran Khan’s political future.
Neither the PML-N realised back then how painful the judgment would turn out to be nor does PTI appear to be in a mood to even accept that all is not well for it as the decision will trigger a series of legal challenges at a time when it is gearing up for the next general elections.
“The immediate threat of dissolution of the party is over but the larger threat is still looming large on the PTI,” renowned constitutional expert Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar said. “There will be little chance to challenge the ECP notice as it has sought explanation from the PTI,” the expert said, adding challenging the notice before a high court would be struck down on the grounds of maintainability and the PTI will have to reply to notice and then the ECP would give a final judgment in the case.
Khokhar also poured cold water on celebrations in the government’s camp by saying that the federal government can’t take any action by itself until the ECP sends a reference to the federal government, saying the ECP has so far only sent a copy of the decision to it which, too, was beyond the mandate given in the Political Parties Order of 2002.
“Right now, the federal government has nothing in its hands; all it can do is to issue political statements,” Khokhar said, saying any action taken by the federal will likely be set aside by courts.
He explained that the “moot point before the Supreme Court would be the words mentioned in law, the receipt of substantial or portion of foreign funding or the application of the Election Act 2017 with prospective or retrospective effect in case the order of ECP would be challenged before the superior courts.”
Renowned political analyst Mazhar Abbas said that the Political Parties Order, 2002, and the Election Act, 2017 are very clear, saying accepting donations, contribution from foreigners, multinational companies or foreign country completely prohibited under the law. “All is not well for the PTI in this verdict whether they accept it or not,” he tweeted.
Political and legal experts said that equating a political party with a corporate entity was a false argument in its entirety, adding that blaming the accountants was like blaming the knives. They said that the PTI was currently in a state of denial because the case might take months if it is continuously heard under the PPO, 2002.
However, they added, if ECP applies the Election Act of 2017 retrospectively, then the matter could be concluded within a few weeks or months and that might not spell well for the PTI when it finally goes into elections.
Express Tribune
The PML-N didn’t realise back then that it was just calm before the storm; it massively downplayed the decision, and Ahsan Iqbal had declared it “a historic victory”. Conversely, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had chided the PML-N leadership, saying they didn’t seem to have read the full judgment and haven’t realised what has actually happened to them. Former financial czar Asad Umar had tweeted that “not a single judge found Nawaz Sharif innocent”. Nevertheless, the Panama case judgment made both the PML-N and the PTI ecstatic and they celebrated it.
Fast forward to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s Tuesday’s decision found that the PTI received funding from prohibited sources; it got funds from 34 foreign nationals and 351 foreign-based companies; it hid 13 accounts; and Form-1 submitted by PTI Chairman Imran Khan is “grossly inaccurate”. The ECP also issued a notice to the PTI to explain why funds shouldn’t be confiscated.
Surprisingly, the PML-N and the PTI have once again celebrated the ECP’s judgment; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif terming it a charge-sheet against Imran Khan while the PTI leadership downplaying the verdict just like the PML-N did in the Panama case.
Following the ECP judgment, Fawad defended the PTI chairman by saying that Imran Khan only signed audited accounts when he was told that all the accounts were legal. While blaming the accountants, Fawad said how Imran Khan could have declared hidden accounts when he was not even aware about them, saying the PTI chief simply believed his accountants. Asad Umar said that people trust Imran Khan and that’s why they sent their money to him, adding there was no threat to Imran Khan’s political future.
Neither the PML-N realised back then how painful the judgment would turn out to be nor does PTI appear to be in a mood to even accept that all is not well for it as the decision will trigger a series of legal challenges at a time when it is gearing up for the next general elections.
“The immediate threat of dissolution of the party is over but the larger threat is still looming large on the PTI,” renowned constitutional expert Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar said. “There will be little chance to challenge the ECP notice as it has sought explanation from the PTI,” the expert said, adding challenging the notice before a high court would be struck down on the grounds of maintainability and the PTI will have to reply to notice and then the ECP would give a final judgment in the case.
Khokhar also poured cold water on celebrations in the government’s camp by saying that the federal government can’t take any action by itself until the ECP sends a reference to the federal government, saying the ECP has so far only sent a copy of the decision to it which, too, was beyond the mandate given in the Political Parties Order of 2002.
“Right now, the federal government has nothing in its hands; all it can do is to issue political statements,” Khokhar said, saying any action taken by the federal will likely be set aside by courts.
He explained that the “moot point before the Supreme Court would be the words mentioned in law, the receipt of substantial or portion of foreign funding or the application of the Election Act 2017 with prospective or retrospective effect in case the order of ECP would be challenged before the superior courts.”
Renowned political analyst Mazhar Abbas said that the Political Parties Order, 2002, and the Election Act, 2017 are very clear, saying accepting donations, contribution from foreigners, multinational companies or foreign country completely prohibited under the law. “All is not well for the PTI in this verdict whether they accept it or not,” he tweeted.
Political and legal experts said that equating a political party with a corporate entity was a false argument in its entirety, adding that blaming the accountants was like blaming the knives. They said that the PTI was currently in a state of denial because the case might take months if it is continuously heard under the PPO, 2002.
However, they added, if ECP applies the Election Act of 2017 retrospectively, then the matter could be concluded within a few weeks or months and that might not spell well for the PTI when it finally goes into elections.
Express Tribune
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry claimed on Wednesday that the verdict for the prohibited funding case was changed upon the request of the law minister.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the former federal minister of information touched on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict on the prohibited funding case, claiming the government was overjoyed with the outcomes.
In an attempt to take a jibe at the coalition government, the PTI leader said that the, “PDM [Pakistan Democratic Movement] held 12 press conferences yesterday and are holding them since this morning as well.”
He further said that the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja delivered the judgement under urgency, as requested by the PDM leaders in the meeting held prior to the verdict.
The PTI went on to question how the chief election commissioner was authorized to have meetings amidst a pending case.
“The PTI will protest against this tomorrow. The ECP has no right to send references to the government,” he said, adding that the verdict was altered upon the request of the law minister.
Fawad also shared that a reference has been filed against the chief election commissioner and the Sindh members, as he questioned how they were allowed to sign the verdict.
“We will challenge this decision. The PTI and Imran Khan cannot be barred,” he added.
A day earlier, the ECP announced its long-awaited ruling in PTI’s prohibited funding case, unanimously ruling that the party did receive illegal funding. A notice was also issued to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
In its written order, the ECP said the political party received millions of dollars in illegal funds from foreign countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, UK and Australia.
"The office is also directed to initiate any other action under the law, in light of this order of the Commission," said the 68-page judgment - a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune.
Express Tribune
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the former federal minister of information touched on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict on the prohibited funding case, claiming the government was overjoyed with the outcomes.
In an attempt to take a jibe at the coalition government, the PTI leader said that the, “PDM [Pakistan Democratic Movement] held 12 press conferences yesterday and are holding them since this morning as well.”
He further said that the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja delivered the judgement under urgency, as requested by the PDM leaders in the meeting held prior to the verdict.
The PTI went on to question how the chief election commissioner was authorized to have meetings amidst a pending case.
“The PTI will protest against this tomorrow. The ECP has no right to send references to the government,” he said, adding that the verdict was altered upon the request of the law minister.
Fawad also shared that a reference has been filed against the chief election commissioner and the Sindh members, as he questioned how they were allowed to sign the verdict.
“We will challenge this decision. The PTI and Imran Khan cannot be barred,” he added.
A day earlier, the ECP announced its long-awaited ruling in PTI’s prohibited funding case, unanimously ruling that the party did receive illegal funding. A notice was also issued to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
In its written order, the ECP said the political party received millions of dollars in illegal funds from foreign countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, UK and Australia.
"The office is also directed to initiate any other action under the law, in light of this order of the Commission," said the 68-page judgment - a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune.
Express Tribune
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Reacting to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s latest statement in which he had said that the government could declare the PTI a foreign-funded party, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that "it is not up to you" to ban Imran Khan or the party.
Earlier today, Sanaullah said that the government can submit a declaration to the Supreme Court on the basis of verified evidence that PTI is a foreign-aided party and if the apex court upholds this declaration, "the party will stand dissolved".
Fawad said that a reference has been filed against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and that the party will appeal against the Election Commission of Pakistan's decision, which he declared was "in contravention to the law and the Constitution."
A day earlier, the ECP in a unanimous verdict, ruled that the PTI received funds from "prohibited" sources. The PTI leader also announced a protest outside the ECP office.
He alleged that member parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement alliance had "met the chief election commissioner" before the verdict was announced.
TheNews
Earlier today, Sanaullah said that the government can submit a declaration to the Supreme Court on the basis of verified evidence that PTI is a foreign-aided party and if the apex court upholds this declaration, "the party will stand dissolved".
Fawad said that a reference has been filed against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and that the party will appeal against the Election Commission of Pakistan's decision, which he declared was "in contravention to the law and the Constitution."
A day earlier, the ECP in a unanimous verdict, ruled that the PTI received funds from "prohibited" sources. The PTI leader also announced a protest outside the ECP office.
He alleged that member parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement alliance had "met the chief election commissioner" before the verdict was announced.
TheNews
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Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday called for swift proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan and his party, demanding that the “PTI should be made an example of”.
“Whether it is Imran Khan or Dr Arif Alvi, [they] should immediately resign from the party because they have proven to be criminals,” he said in a press conference that followed a meeting of the PDM leadership at the Prime Minister’s House today.
Fazl’s comments come a day after the Election Commission of Pakistan, in its much-anticipated verdict, ruled that PTI had “wilfully” and “knowingly” received prohibited funding — which include a number of foreign donors.
In its order, the commission also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes”.
The PDM chief said that all the political parties had decided to initiate action against Imran and his party as they were now “proven criminals”.
He demanded that PTI officeholders should also be immediately arrested.
The JUI-F leader said that for eight years, Imran tried to “run away” from the ECP by levelling accusations against the institution and its chief.
“He blackmailed the ECP but the reality is that the commission is an [independent] institution and it can’t falsify the facts,” he stated.
Imran and his supporters have on multiple occasions cast aspersions on the ECP and its Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, accusing the body and its leader of bias.
“The verdict has proved that he is an incompetent leader. All these years the PTI submitted false certificates and declarations in the ECP which is a violation of the Constitution.
“But today, we have reached the stage where it is now clear that he backed a foreign agenda and tried to harm Pakistan,” he claimed.
The verdict, Fazl continued, showed that Imran was a “foreign puppet who was brought into politics as [part of] a foreign agenda”.
“He took help from Israel and India […] today all these facts have been unearthed. His fundraisers had links to Israel, India, Denmark, Canada, Finland and many other countries.”
Fazl added that during today’s meeting, the government and its allies had agreed that the “matter of the state’s security” was the utmost priority and stressed that all the “institutions and powers” should work as one to protect the country.
Such “criminal elements”, he said, should be “uprooted from the country’s history and be made an example for the upcoming generations”.
“Whether it is Imran Khan or Dr Arif Alvi, [they] should immediately resign from the party because they have proven to be criminals,” he said in a press conference that followed a meeting of the PDM leadership at the Prime Minister’s House today.
Fazl’s comments come a day after the Election Commission of Pakistan, in its much-anticipated verdict, ruled that PTI had “wilfully” and “knowingly” received prohibited funding — which include a number of foreign donors.
In its order, the commission also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes”.
The PDM chief said that all the political parties had decided to initiate action against Imran and his party as they were now “proven criminals”.
He demanded that PTI officeholders should also be immediately arrested.
The JUI-F leader said that for eight years, Imran tried to “run away” from the ECP by levelling accusations against the institution and its chief.
“He blackmailed the ECP but the reality is that the commission is an [independent] institution and it can’t falsify the facts,” he stated.
Imran and his supporters have on multiple occasions cast aspersions on the ECP and its Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, accusing the body and its leader of bias.
“The verdict has proved that he is an incompetent leader. All these years the PTI submitted false certificates and declarations in the ECP which is a violation of the Constitution.
“But today, we have reached the stage where it is now clear that he backed a foreign agenda and tried to harm Pakistan,” he claimed.
The verdict, Fazl continued, showed that Imran was a “foreign puppet who was brought into politics as [part of] a foreign agenda”.
“He took help from Israel and India […] today all these facts have been unearthed. His fundraisers had links to Israel, India, Denmark, Canada, Finland and many other countries.”
Fazl added that during today’s meeting, the government and its allies had agreed that the “matter of the state’s security” was the utmost priority and stressed that all the “institutions and powers” should work as one to protect the country.
Such “criminal elements”, he said, should be “uprooted from the country’s history and be made an example for the upcoming generations”.
Kianig89
Senior Test Player
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Without PTI Pakistan has no future heck the awareness PTI has created specially among females is unparalleled in upcoming general elections turnout will be between 65_70% and that will be the deciding factor the 51% popn. Of Pakistan
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PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday asked if the country could be held back for the appointment of the army chief, suggesting that instead of thinking about what will happen in November, the focus should be on bringing stability back to Pakistan.
In an interview with journalist Imran Riaz Khan on Express News, Imran said that while the army played an important part in the country’s national security, economic stability was equally important.
“We have to choose […] do we want stability or a new army chief?” he said in response to a question.
He then went on to give the example of the Soviet Union, that according to him, broke apart due to economic instability.
“Right now, the more important issue than the army chief’s appointment is stability and only one thing can bring that — elections,” Imran said, highlighting that the aim should be to prevent Pakistan from falling into a place where “things go out of hand”.
He highlighted that the markets were tumbling, industries were closing down and the economy was in a freefall. “Now is the time to decide. But this fear in Zardari and Shehbaz [of losing the elections] is sabotaging the entire country,” the PTI chairman went on to say.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who was given an extension by the previous PTI government in 2019, will leave his position on November 29 when his second three-year tenure comes to an end.
The next army chief’s appointment is at times mentioned as one of the major subplots in the ongoing political crisis engulfing the country.
In an interview with BBC Urdu in May, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said: “Imran Khan wanted to do things his own way on the matter of the new army chief’s appointment. He wanted to ensure the protection of his political interests and the continuity of his rule.”
The remarks were in response to when the interviewer brought up the impression that former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted over the new army chief’s appointment.
That same month, Imran said he never wanted to bring his own army chief and that he never meddled in Pakistan Army’s affairs.
But as if the appointment is seemingly at the heart of the matter, President Arif Alvi had late last month said in his opinion there was “no harm” in appointing the next army chief before the expiry of the incumbent’s term.
“In my opinion, there is no harm in making the army chief’s appointment ahead of time,” he told reporters.
‘Neutrals nominated Sikandar Sultan as CEC’
In the interview, Imran fired broadsides at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and criticised Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
He said that it was the “neutrals” — a euphemism Khan uses to describe the military establishment — who suggested the latter’s name as the head of the ECP.
He said that according to the 18th Amendment, heads of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), ECP and caretaker governments were supposed to be decided amicably by all the political parties.
“At the time of CEC’s appointment, there had been a deadlock [among the parties]. So, the neutrals approached us and said that the country needed to move forward.
“They suggested Sikandar Sultan’s name. I didn’t even know him [back then]. But people told us that he was PML-N’s man,” Imran recalled, saying that when he told the neutral about this, they guaranteed that the CEC would stay neutral.
“But we made a mistake of appointing him because in all these years, from day one, he has been passing decisions against us,” the PTI leader regretted.
And the worst thing the CEC did was create hurdles in the approval of the electronic voting machines (EVM), he continued.
“He did his best to oppose them and so did the other two parties (PML-N and PPP) because they are experts at rigging,” Imran said, adding that PTI would file a reference against the CEC in the Supreme Judicial Council.
He added that despite having all the evidence right in front of his eyes, Raja refused to intervene. “How can he let votes be bought? He has no shame.”
‘ECP involved in conspiracy’
The PTI chairman also alleged that the ECP was involved in the conspiracy with the incumbent government and Raja was a part of it.
“When they [the govt] participated in the regime-change conspiracy, they thought our party will come to an end,” he said. “After that, they thought they would win the by-elections [recently held in Punjab], but they lost that too. so now, they have opted for a technical knockout.”
Imran said that ECP’s ruling — which he referred to as a “report” — on PTI’s prohibited funding case was “rubbish” and was “disrespectful of PTI”.
“They made two reports and one was added on someone’s wishes which said PTI was foreign-funded […] but this is mentioned nowhere else except the end,” he said, reiterating that the ECP prepared it on “someone’s orders”.
“They say PTI can’t raise funds from overseas Pakistanis,” Imran said, questioning what part of the law said that.
On the misdeclarations, he said what he signed was actually just a “certificate” which stated that he had approved the funds “to the best of my knowledge”.
He said: “Despite our requests of probing of all political parties, he didn’t bring up their funding because then the public would know only PTI raises funds genuinely.
“These other parties, they are just dependent on seths.”
The PTI chief added that tomorrow, a parliamentary delegation of the PTI will go to the ECP office in Islamabad and convey that the party had lost confidence in the electoral body and there would be no protest outside it.
‘Elections only way forward’
The ex-premier also said that “free and transparent” elections were the only way out of the crises that have grappled the country right now.
He highlighted that rupee was falling and the markets were suffering because they had “lost confidence” in the government. “Imagine that a country’s army chief has to call America and request them for funds.”
Imran said that he was even ready to talk to the government if they “dissolve the assemblies today and announce the new date for elections”.
In the same breath, he said that it, however, didn’t seem like the coalition government wanted to opt for that because he claimed they were “afraid of losing”.
“They are not thinking about the country, they just want to save their loot […] this is their issue, not Pakistan,” he said. “They have money abroad, they don’t care if the rupee falls. This will just increase their wealth.”
The PTI chairman also lambasted the coalition for accepting the resignations of 11 PTI lawmakers in the National Assembly “in bits and pieces” warning that it would bring further instability into the country.
‘Giving space to America will affect relations with Afghans’
Towards the end of his interview, while responding to a question on the recent American drone strike in Afghanistan which killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri, Imran said that he wasn’t aware if Pakistan had provided its “[air]space” to the US.
“But if they have, this could seriously damage our relations with China,” he warned, cautioning that in the past, Pakistan had suffered grave consequences for “minuscule benefits”.
“Whether you like the Taliban or not, you need to accept that they are not against Pakistan, unlike the Ghani government.
“And this is why we should not do anything that affects these relations. If we give space and if America conducts a drone attack in Afghanistan, it will affect our tribal areas. Do we want to become a part of someone else’s war amid these crises?” he asked.
“Have we not learned and will we become a part of someone else’s conflict again?”
In an interview with journalist Imran Riaz Khan on Express News, Imran said that while the army played an important part in the country’s national security, economic stability was equally important.
“We have to choose […] do we want stability or a new army chief?” he said in response to a question.
He then went on to give the example of the Soviet Union, that according to him, broke apart due to economic instability.
“Right now, the more important issue than the army chief’s appointment is stability and only one thing can bring that — elections,” Imran said, highlighting that the aim should be to prevent Pakistan from falling into a place where “things go out of hand”.
He highlighted that the markets were tumbling, industries were closing down and the economy was in a freefall. “Now is the time to decide. But this fear in Zardari and Shehbaz [of losing the elections] is sabotaging the entire country,” the PTI chairman went on to say.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who was given an extension by the previous PTI government in 2019, will leave his position on November 29 when his second three-year tenure comes to an end.
The next army chief’s appointment is at times mentioned as one of the major subplots in the ongoing political crisis engulfing the country.
In an interview with BBC Urdu in May, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said: “Imran Khan wanted to do things his own way on the matter of the new army chief’s appointment. He wanted to ensure the protection of his political interests and the continuity of his rule.”
The remarks were in response to when the interviewer brought up the impression that former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted over the new army chief’s appointment.
That same month, Imran said he never wanted to bring his own army chief and that he never meddled in Pakistan Army’s affairs.
But as if the appointment is seemingly at the heart of the matter, President Arif Alvi had late last month said in his opinion there was “no harm” in appointing the next army chief before the expiry of the incumbent’s term.
“In my opinion, there is no harm in making the army chief’s appointment ahead of time,” he told reporters.
‘Neutrals nominated Sikandar Sultan as CEC’
In the interview, Imran fired broadsides at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and criticised Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
He said that it was the “neutrals” — a euphemism Khan uses to describe the military establishment — who suggested the latter’s name as the head of the ECP.
He said that according to the 18th Amendment, heads of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), ECP and caretaker governments were supposed to be decided amicably by all the political parties.
“At the time of CEC’s appointment, there had been a deadlock [among the parties]. So, the neutrals approached us and said that the country needed to move forward.
“They suggested Sikandar Sultan’s name. I didn’t even know him [back then]. But people told us that he was PML-N’s man,” Imran recalled, saying that when he told the neutral about this, they guaranteed that the CEC would stay neutral.
“But we made a mistake of appointing him because in all these years, from day one, he has been passing decisions against us,” the PTI leader regretted.
And the worst thing the CEC did was create hurdles in the approval of the electronic voting machines (EVM), he continued.
“He did his best to oppose them and so did the other two parties (PML-N and PPP) because they are experts at rigging,” Imran said, adding that PTI would file a reference against the CEC in the Supreme Judicial Council.
He added that despite having all the evidence right in front of his eyes, Raja refused to intervene. “How can he let votes be bought? He has no shame.”
‘ECP involved in conspiracy’
The PTI chairman also alleged that the ECP was involved in the conspiracy with the incumbent government and Raja was a part of it.
“When they [the govt] participated in the regime-change conspiracy, they thought our party will come to an end,” he said. “After that, they thought they would win the by-elections [recently held in Punjab], but they lost that too. so now, they have opted for a technical knockout.”
Imran said that ECP’s ruling — which he referred to as a “report” — on PTI’s prohibited funding case was “rubbish” and was “disrespectful of PTI”.
“They made two reports and one was added on someone’s wishes which said PTI was foreign-funded […] but this is mentioned nowhere else except the end,” he said, reiterating that the ECP prepared it on “someone’s orders”.
“They say PTI can’t raise funds from overseas Pakistanis,” Imran said, questioning what part of the law said that.
On the misdeclarations, he said what he signed was actually just a “certificate” which stated that he had approved the funds “to the best of my knowledge”.
He said: “Despite our requests of probing of all political parties, he didn’t bring up their funding because then the public would know only PTI raises funds genuinely.
“These other parties, they are just dependent on seths.”
The PTI chief added that tomorrow, a parliamentary delegation of the PTI will go to the ECP office in Islamabad and convey that the party had lost confidence in the electoral body and there would be no protest outside it.
‘Elections only way forward’
The ex-premier also said that “free and transparent” elections were the only way out of the crises that have grappled the country right now.
He highlighted that rupee was falling and the markets were suffering because they had “lost confidence” in the government. “Imagine that a country’s army chief has to call America and request them for funds.”
Imran said that he was even ready to talk to the government if they “dissolve the assemblies today and announce the new date for elections”.
In the same breath, he said that it, however, didn’t seem like the coalition government wanted to opt for that because he claimed they were “afraid of losing”.
“They are not thinking about the country, they just want to save their loot […] this is their issue, not Pakistan,” he said. “They have money abroad, they don’t care if the rupee falls. This will just increase their wealth.”
The PTI chairman also lambasted the coalition for accepting the resignations of 11 PTI lawmakers in the National Assembly “in bits and pieces” warning that it would bring further instability into the country.
‘Giving space to America will affect relations with Afghans’
Towards the end of his interview, while responding to a question on the recent American drone strike in Afghanistan which killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri, Imran said that he wasn’t aware if Pakistan had provided its “[air]space” to the US.
“But if they have, this could seriously damage our relations with China,” he warned, cautioning that in the past, Pakistan had suffered grave consequences for “minuscule benefits”.
“Whether you like the Taliban or not, you need to accept that they are not against Pakistan, unlike the Ghani government.
“And this is why we should not do anything that affects these relations. If we give space and if America conducts a drone attack in Afghanistan, it will affect our tribal areas. Do we want to become a part of someone else’s war amid these crises?” he asked.
“Have we not learned and will we become a part of someone else’s conflict again?”
Bewal Express
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So the initial report was changed at the last moment. The ECP is a disgrace and not fit to be the arbiter of the biggest Kaddo competition, never mind an election of country the size of PK. The mafia have corrupted ever single institution in PK
Colorblind Genius
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Here is a better scenario of foreign funding.
https://www.facebook.com/100001515254928/videos/598904184939223
https://www.facebook.com/100001515254928/videos/598904184939223
Bewal Express
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[MENTION=135038]Major[/MENTION]
Why was BB lying? Or was she? Your clown of a leader doesn't understand what his mother fought against and those disgusting pictures and propaganda from Nooras should raise ghairat in you guys. But alas it doesn't
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As the federal government mulls placing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's name on the no-fly list, the former prime minister said that he would "thank" the incumbent regime if it places his name on the Exit Control List (ECL), adding that he does not wish to leave the country.
"I don't have any assets in London and I don't wish to leave the country... everything I own is in Pakistan so if the government puts my name on the ECL, I'd thank them," he said during an interview on Express News programme Takrar.
Imran said that on what grounds will the government arrest him as nothing has been proven against him so far.
The former PM alleged that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was involved in conspiring against him. "The PPP and the PML-N have nurtured many big players from whom they get money and later use that money during the elections."
Saying that his party would stage a protest against the chief election commissioner in front of the ECP office in Islamabad, the ousted premier said that many people told him that Sikandar Sultan Raja was "the PML-N's man", adding that his party would approach the Supreme Judicial Council against him.
The PTI chairman said that money was used to buy members during the Senate elections. "It should be asked from where did they get this money to bribe the members... both these parties (the PPP and the PML-N) have done many wrongdoings under the garb of the 18th amendment."
The army, he said, is an important part of the country's integrity but one cannot hold the entire country over the appointment of the army chief as the economy is also important.
"Instead of thinking about November, we should think about now because the situation is very bad. Textile factories are closing down and there is a severe energy crisis due to which people are losing their jobs," he added.
The former premier went on to say that the inflation in the country is on the rise and the problems of the people are increasing by each day, therefore, "we must think about the economy first". "Immediate and transparent elections are the only solution to all the problems."
Imran said that he is willing to talk if the government announces the date for the election. However, he added, the PML-N and the PPP only want to eliminate the PTI from the game by any means, saying that both will fail as people supported his party.
He said that there were 183 methods for rigging but if electronic voting machines are installed, 130 of those become redundant automatically. "Shehbaz Sharif and [Asif Ali] Zardari are not announcing the election date as they have fear of losing," he added.
He said that the PTI has 163 seats whereas the PML-Q has 10 seats in Punjab and the cabinet has been formed keeping these numbers in view but added that more members will be added to the cabinet soon and the PML-Q members will be given more portfolios.
Answering a question, the ousted prime minister ruled out any possibility of returning to the National Assembly. "If we sit there it would mean we have become facilitators... If the government dissolves the assembly and gives the date of the elections then we can talk."
Express Tribune
"I don't have any assets in London and I don't wish to leave the country... everything I own is in Pakistan so if the government puts my name on the ECL, I'd thank them," he said during an interview on Express News programme Takrar.
Imran said that on what grounds will the government arrest him as nothing has been proven against him so far.
The former PM alleged that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was involved in conspiring against him. "The PPP and the PML-N have nurtured many big players from whom they get money and later use that money during the elections."
Saying that his party would stage a protest against the chief election commissioner in front of the ECP office in Islamabad, the ousted premier said that many people told him that Sikandar Sultan Raja was "the PML-N's man", adding that his party would approach the Supreme Judicial Council against him.
The PTI chairman said that money was used to buy members during the Senate elections. "It should be asked from where did they get this money to bribe the members... both these parties (the PPP and the PML-N) have done many wrongdoings under the garb of the 18th amendment."
The army, he said, is an important part of the country's integrity but one cannot hold the entire country over the appointment of the army chief as the economy is also important.
"Instead of thinking about November, we should think about now because the situation is very bad. Textile factories are closing down and there is a severe energy crisis due to which people are losing their jobs," he added.
The former premier went on to say that the inflation in the country is on the rise and the problems of the people are increasing by each day, therefore, "we must think about the economy first". "Immediate and transparent elections are the only solution to all the problems."
Imran said that he is willing to talk if the government announces the date for the election. However, he added, the PML-N and the PPP only want to eliminate the PTI from the game by any means, saying that both will fail as people supported his party.
He said that there were 183 methods for rigging but if electronic voting machines are installed, 130 of those become redundant automatically. "Shehbaz Sharif and [Asif Ali] Zardari are not announcing the election date as they have fear of losing," he added.
He said that the PTI has 163 seats whereas the PML-Q has 10 seats in Punjab and the cabinet has been formed keeping these numbers in view but added that more members will be added to the cabinet soon and the PML-Q members will be given more portfolios.
Answering a question, the ousted prime minister ruled out any possibility of returning to the National Assembly. "If we sit there it would mean we have become facilitators... If the government dissolves the assembly and gives the date of the elections then we can talk."
Express Tribune
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ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) verdict in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prohibited foreign funding case has intensified the political fight between the ruling and opposition alliances in the Centre.
The two sides issued harsh statements against each other; the government alliance leaders demanded sending a reference against the PTI chairman, while Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders threatened the ruling alliance with a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo advised the coalition government to file a reference against the PTI in the Supreme Court within 48 hours. He was speaking through video-link to a meeting of the coalition government partners at the Prime Minister’s House with PM Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.
Party officials said Nawaz stressed “providing no concession to those who create instability on the agenda of anti-national elements”, adding that Imran Khan was directly involved in the rollback of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and “selling of Kashmir”.
Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Sherpao said the coalition government has to deliver now and control inflation. The meeting also decided that all coalition parties would hold rallies against the PTI across the country.
As per the plan, MQM will lead rallies in Karachi and PPP in Hyderabad and Sukkur, JUIF in Peshawar, PkMAP and BNP-Mengal in Quetta, and PMLN in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the ruling coalition leaders, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman said all the member parties of the ruling coalition were of the view that immediate legal proceedings should be initiated against the PTI leaders in the light of the ECP verdict. The federal cabinet, in its meeting on Thursday, would approve the decisions taken by the meeting held on Wednesday, he said.
Maulana Fazl said that now it was the question of integrity of the country and all institutions should now stand for the purpose. The PDM chief, while observing that the ECP verdict was a charge-sheet against the PTI leadership, said Dr Arif Alvi and Imran Khan should immediately resign as president of Pakistan and PTI chairman, respectively. “Not only Imran Khan but all the PTI leaders are criminals and foreign funding was received with their consent,” he said. The Maulana said Imran Khan and his party would also be held accountable for the foreign funding it received after 2013.
The Maulana said Imran Khan, under an international agenda, received foreign funding to destroy Pakistan as a state. “It has been proved from verdict on foreign funding that he is a foreign puppet,” the PDM chief said, adding that those who gave funds to the PTI belonged to India, Israel, the UK, the US, Australia, Denmark and other countries.
He said that the ECP verdict also proved that the PTI leaders were involved in criminal activities and the party’s central and provincial leadership should be taken to task. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) would be approached by his party against the chief election commissioner (CEC).
While talking to a private news channel on Wednesday, he said the ECP had levelled foolish allegations against the PTI. He said he had never seen such a silly report that had been issued by the ECP against his party. He said the commission compiled two reports, one of those declaring the PTI a foreign-funded party was included at the behest of ‘someone’.
He censured the ECP saying the commission was involved in a conspiracy with the ‘imported government’ against the PTI as the institution was deliberately delaying the funding reports of the ruling PMLN and PPP.
Khan said the PPP and PMLN were receiving funds from wealthy persons and both political parties had done wrongdoings in the name of the 18th Amendment. He said that it was not illegal to collect funds from overseas Pakistanis by any law. The law barring collection of funds from organisations was introduced in 2017, whereas, different companies disbursed funds to his political party in 2012. He said his party did not break any law at all.
Khan also responded to the controversy related to his affidavit and said, “Affidavit was signed for declaring the ownership of the assets and another for confirming the party accounts. Shaukat Khanum has a budget of Rs18 billion. Am I an accountant to see the whole budget? I was given a briefing about the accounts which I will definitely confirm.”
He announced that the PTI would take part in the elections with full strength and polls should be conducted on all seats. “I want to raise a question if the organisation of by-elections will bring any improvement to the country.”
Khan criticised that those persons who should face the penalties were imposed as rulers of the country. He warned of increasing risks to national security due to the current rulers.
He announced, “We will approach the Supreme Judicial Council against the CEC. Many people had criticised the selection of the election commissioner as he is a PMLN loyalist.” Khan said that two provincial assemblies had passed resolutions against the current CEC. He disclosed that neutrals had given the guarantee of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sultan Sikandar that he would perform his duties impartially.
Imran Khan urged the use of Electronic Voting Machines in the general elections and said that EVMs would eliminate all kinds of vote rigging. “We are going to organise a peaceful protest against the chief election commissioner tomorrow [Thursday].” He reiterated his demand for free and fair elections to end crisis in the country. “We are ready for talks if the date for fresh elections is announced. Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari are reluctant to announce the fresh elections due to fear of facing defeat,” he added.
Regarding the reports of his inclusion into the Exit Control List, the PTI chief said he was happy over the inclusion of his name in the ECL. He said he had no plans to go abroad and the government was free to add his name to the list.
Separately, PTI Senior Vice-President Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Wednesday said they were all set to send the coalition government packing through a vote of no-confidence. Addressing a news conference here, he claimed that either the government had lost the confidence of some allies or “we have gained the confidence of some of them”.
He said the PTI had completed preparations and a decision on the date would be made and then a no-trust motion would be filed, asking the government to get a vote of confidence. He said the regime would soon be on its knees.
He said the Election Commission announced the prohibited funding case in a hurry and the verdict was delivered immediately after talks with the Election Commission on pending cases of the PDM.
Fawad claimed that the Election Commission had given two decisions in a hurry; a decision was handed over to the media, which did not mention the reference being sent to the government in the last line, and it was not because there was no power to send references under the law under which action was being taken. In the second decision, one-and-a-half line was added to it and put on its website.
He said meetings were never held in the chambers with the parties concerning the pending cases, but the chief election commissioner met the government members in the chamber, discussed the things in detail and results were decided after which Sultan Sikandar Raja and his team gave the verdict.
The PTI leader alleged the loopholes in this decision were as high as the mountains. He said they would not only appeal the Election Commission verdict but also ask for disciplinary action as the decision was beyond the Constitution and law.
He said the PMLN, which had taken 84 seats, was saying that they would ban the party which had taken 155 seats. “You should talk according to your status and height; it is not for you to ban Imran Khan and the Tehreek-e-Insaf and you are running away from the elections,” Fawad said.
Fawad reiterated to challenge the ECP decision in the court and put all the facts before them and hoped that the decision would be reversed. He said if any party should be banned, it was Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam because he took funding from abroad while audits of the PPP and Muslim League Nawaz funds had been pending since 2018.
Express Tribune
The two sides issued harsh statements against each other; the government alliance leaders demanded sending a reference against the PTI chairman, while Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders threatened the ruling alliance with a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo advised the coalition government to file a reference against the PTI in the Supreme Court within 48 hours. He was speaking through video-link to a meeting of the coalition government partners at the Prime Minister’s House with PM Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.
Party officials said Nawaz stressed “providing no concession to those who create instability on the agenda of anti-national elements”, adding that Imran Khan was directly involved in the rollback of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and “selling of Kashmir”.
Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Sherpao said the coalition government has to deliver now and control inflation. The meeting also decided that all coalition parties would hold rallies against the PTI across the country.
As per the plan, MQM will lead rallies in Karachi and PPP in Hyderabad and Sukkur, JUIF in Peshawar, PkMAP and BNP-Mengal in Quetta, and PMLN in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the ruling coalition leaders, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman said all the member parties of the ruling coalition were of the view that immediate legal proceedings should be initiated against the PTI leaders in the light of the ECP verdict. The federal cabinet, in its meeting on Thursday, would approve the decisions taken by the meeting held on Wednesday, he said.
Maulana Fazl said that now it was the question of integrity of the country and all institutions should now stand for the purpose. The PDM chief, while observing that the ECP verdict was a charge-sheet against the PTI leadership, said Dr Arif Alvi and Imran Khan should immediately resign as president of Pakistan and PTI chairman, respectively. “Not only Imran Khan but all the PTI leaders are criminals and foreign funding was received with their consent,” he said. The Maulana said Imran Khan and his party would also be held accountable for the foreign funding it received after 2013.
The Maulana said Imran Khan, under an international agenda, received foreign funding to destroy Pakistan as a state. “It has been proved from verdict on foreign funding that he is a foreign puppet,” the PDM chief said, adding that those who gave funds to the PTI belonged to India, Israel, the UK, the US, Australia, Denmark and other countries.
He said that the ECP verdict also proved that the PTI leaders were involved in criminal activities and the party’s central and provincial leadership should be taken to task. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) would be approached by his party against the chief election commissioner (CEC).
While talking to a private news channel on Wednesday, he said the ECP had levelled foolish allegations against the PTI. He said he had never seen such a silly report that had been issued by the ECP against his party. He said the commission compiled two reports, one of those declaring the PTI a foreign-funded party was included at the behest of ‘someone’.
He censured the ECP saying the commission was involved in a conspiracy with the ‘imported government’ against the PTI as the institution was deliberately delaying the funding reports of the ruling PMLN and PPP.
Khan said the PPP and PMLN were receiving funds from wealthy persons and both political parties had done wrongdoings in the name of the 18th Amendment. He said that it was not illegal to collect funds from overseas Pakistanis by any law. The law barring collection of funds from organisations was introduced in 2017, whereas, different companies disbursed funds to his political party in 2012. He said his party did not break any law at all.
Khan also responded to the controversy related to his affidavit and said, “Affidavit was signed for declaring the ownership of the assets and another for confirming the party accounts. Shaukat Khanum has a budget of Rs18 billion. Am I an accountant to see the whole budget? I was given a briefing about the accounts which I will definitely confirm.”
He announced that the PTI would take part in the elections with full strength and polls should be conducted on all seats. “I want to raise a question if the organisation of by-elections will bring any improvement to the country.”
Khan criticised that those persons who should face the penalties were imposed as rulers of the country. He warned of increasing risks to national security due to the current rulers.
He announced, “We will approach the Supreme Judicial Council against the CEC. Many people had criticised the selection of the election commissioner as he is a PMLN loyalist.” Khan said that two provincial assemblies had passed resolutions against the current CEC. He disclosed that neutrals had given the guarantee of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sultan Sikandar that he would perform his duties impartially.
Imran Khan urged the use of Electronic Voting Machines in the general elections and said that EVMs would eliminate all kinds of vote rigging. “We are going to organise a peaceful protest against the chief election commissioner tomorrow [Thursday].” He reiterated his demand for free and fair elections to end crisis in the country. “We are ready for talks if the date for fresh elections is announced. Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari are reluctant to announce the fresh elections due to fear of facing defeat,” he added.
Regarding the reports of his inclusion into the Exit Control List, the PTI chief said he was happy over the inclusion of his name in the ECL. He said he had no plans to go abroad and the government was free to add his name to the list.
Separately, PTI Senior Vice-President Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Wednesday said they were all set to send the coalition government packing through a vote of no-confidence. Addressing a news conference here, he claimed that either the government had lost the confidence of some allies or “we have gained the confidence of some of them”.
He said the PTI had completed preparations and a decision on the date would be made and then a no-trust motion would be filed, asking the government to get a vote of confidence. He said the regime would soon be on its knees.
He said the Election Commission announced the prohibited funding case in a hurry and the verdict was delivered immediately after talks with the Election Commission on pending cases of the PDM.
Fawad claimed that the Election Commission had given two decisions in a hurry; a decision was handed over to the media, which did not mention the reference being sent to the government in the last line, and it was not because there was no power to send references under the law under which action was being taken. In the second decision, one-and-a-half line was added to it and put on its website.
He said meetings were never held in the chambers with the parties concerning the pending cases, but the chief election commissioner met the government members in the chamber, discussed the things in detail and results were decided after which Sultan Sikandar Raja and his team gave the verdict.
The PTI leader alleged the loopholes in this decision were as high as the mountains. He said they would not only appeal the Election Commission verdict but also ask for disciplinary action as the decision was beyond the Constitution and law.
He said the PMLN, which had taken 84 seats, was saying that they would ban the party which had taken 155 seats. “You should talk according to your status and height; it is not for you to ban Imran Khan and the Tehreek-e-Insaf and you are running away from the elections,” Fawad said.
Fawad reiterated to challenge the ECP decision in the court and put all the facts before them and hoped that the decision would be reversed. He said if any party should be banned, it was Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam because he took funding from abroad while audits of the PPP and Muslim League Nawaz funds had been pending since 2018.
Express Tribune
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So as per ECP PTI and Imran itself is a foreign funded conspiracy against Pakistan.
The irony in this statement lol.
Comedy of errors going on in Pakistans political class.
The irony in this statement lol.
Comedy of errors going on in Pakistans political class.
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inshalllah. Lets wait for interior minister to refer this case to Supreme Court
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Responding to criticism that two judgments were given in haste in the prohibited funding case, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) spokesperson on Wednesday maintained that propaganda was being carried out, clarifying that only one verdict was announced which bears signature of the authority concerned on each page.
Meanwhile, the former ruling party has decided to constitute a four-member legal team to challenge the electoral body’s decision.
On Tuesday, the election supervisor issued two pdf versions of the funding case judgment – first one comprising 68 pages – second one 70 pages.
The ECP, in the second version, stated that the judgment would be sent to the federal government.
The second version was released almost half an hour after the release of the first one.
PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry was quick to take to Twitter, stating that the election supervisor had issued two judgments on the funding case.
The ECP spokesperson noted that misleading and false information was being spread by a few individuals that the commission had announced two verdicts in the case.
Expressing astonishment, he said the case continued for eight years but still a few people said the verdict was announced in haste.
“This propaganda has nothing to do with reality. The commission has given one decision which bears signature [of the authority concerned] on each page and was released on the [ECP’s] official website.”
On the other hand, the PTI has formed a four-member legal team led by former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan to challenge the ECP decision. Other members of the team include Barrister Ali Zafar, Shah Khawar and Faisal Chaudhry.
The PTI legal team will prepare an appeal on the ECP’s decision and seek party chairman Imran Khan’s approval.
The ECP on Tuesday ruled that the former ruling party did indeed receive prohibited funding and issued a notice to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
The case which had been filed by founding but disgruntled PTI member Akbar S Babar had been pending since November 14, 2014.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2369410/ecp-refutes-claim-it-issued-two-verdicts-in-pti-funding-case
Meanwhile, the former ruling party has decided to constitute a four-member legal team to challenge the electoral body’s decision.
On Tuesday, the election supervisor issued two pdf versions of the funding case judgment – first one comprising 68 pages – second one 70 pages.
The ECP, in the second version, stated that the judgment would be sent to the federal government.
The second version was released almost half an hour after the release of the first one.
PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry was quick to take to Twitter, stating that the election supervisor had issued two judgments on the funding case.
The ECP spokesperson noted that misleading and false information was being spread by a few individuals that the commission had announced two verdicts in the case.
Expressing astonishment, he said the case continued for eight years but still a few people said the verdict was announced in haste.
“This propaganda has nothing to do with reality. The commission has given one decision which bears signature [of the authority concerned] on each page and was released on the [ECP’s] official website.”
On the other hand, the PTI has formed a four-member legal team led by former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan to challenge the ECP decision. Other members of the team include Barrister Ali Zafar, Shah Khawar and Faisal Chaudhry.
The PTI legal team will prepare an appeal on the ECP’s decision and seek party chairman Imran Khan’s approval.
The ECP on Tuesday ruled that the former ruling party did indeed receive prohibited funding and issued a notice to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
The case which had been filed by founding but disgruntled PTI member Akbar S Babar had been pending since November 14, 2014.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2369410/ecp-refutes-claim-it-issued-two-verdicts-in-pti-funding-case
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I can see some of the posters have finally found voice and are being loud in this thread. There are also talks within this thread that PTI would be banned and IK disqualified such is the wishful thinking in here. I'm no lawyer but let me try to explain that how PTI can and should challenge this verdict.
PTI getting disqualified
Simply put this isn't happening. For this to come into effect PDM lawyers would have to successfully prove in Supreme Court that PTI was working against the interest of Pakistan and in the interest of its foreign contributing donors. This means that PDM would have to prove that by using prohibited funds of $150k PTI was able to influence how Pakistan is currently running and make decisions in interest of donors. The influencing part and decisions made for others beneficial interest would have to be proved with evidence rather than hearsay. If PDM can prove that with $150k Pakistan's stability is at risk then hats off to them literally. Some people make that much in a month while here we are that PTI gathered this sum over a period of 4 years which was immense to de-stabilise the country. Good luck in proving this in SC.
IK would be disqualified
So there is a lot of noise that a certificate issued by IK stating that to the best of his knowledge his party does not have prohibited funding is enough to prove he is a massive liar and a threat to the country and hence should be disqualified. First things first here, we have a certification from IK rather than an oath or declaration about personal interest for which he is accountable. So I'm quite confident that this will not hold much legal weightage.
Secondly let's take the example of the current prohibited funding case. In the verdict the CEC and other judges have declared and signed that they have carried out investigations and have found the following discrepancies in the finances of PTI. This means that CEC is responsible and is taking responsibility of the conclusion of this case. Now if PTI goes to review petition and literally thrashes the conclusion of the verdict i.e. prove that the money is from overseas Pakistani then would this mean that CEC resign from his post as its proven he has signed off on verdict that is grossly inaccurate? Legit question here if the findings by CEC is pure non-sense then why is he holding that post in first place. From all that I have read so far there are 2 grave mistakes in the verdict of CEC a) The individuals listed as foreigners are coming forward as overseas pakistani and hence their funding is legit (case of Mrs Shetty) b) The foreign companies that were said from whom prohibited funding is received only falls in the category of prohibited funding when the law was amended in 2017 i.e. how can a funding received from foreign companies in 2012 be prohibited when the actual law to prohibit it came into effect in 2017? Hence several gross mistakes in CEC actual conclusion / finding can actually land him in hot waters.
Further speaking of certifications. Didn't Shahbaz certify that his brother would come back in 4 weeks? This guy did this in Parliament of all places. Also didn't both PMLN and PPP certify and signed the charter of democracy and then ended up breaking most of its stated clauses, does that hold no legal ramifications? What about any institute providing certification that its member is a qualified personal and then if that member commits a wrongdoing then would the chairman of that institute be responsible? For example, a doctor certified by a body commits gross negligence resulting in fatality would the body be responsible as to why the certification was issued to the doctor? Overall, this noise over certification would not stick in any court room.
So as mentioned the aforementioned dreams of PDM would end up being just dreams. I would also like to highlight certain aspect of the verdict that no one is talking much about. Firstly, no where in the verdict there was anything mentioned about incomplete data over sources of funds which implies that PTI was successfully able to provide all the details of its party funding to the commission. It would also be good for PTI to come out and mention the overall funding raised in these 4 years and of that what % is this $150k representing to paint a more clear picture. In cases of PMLN and PPP the biggest issue would be over the completeness of information around funding. Therefore, PTI can play this card that they were able to present complete funding details whilst others can't. Secondly, now that the verdict is out PTI can ask ECP to upload all the case details including supporting information on the website for public to see. This would be a confidence booster for PTI.
I'm very certain that there would be no work done on PMLN and PPP funding cases whilst this ECP is still in power. However what has happened now is that there is a yardstick which would be used for measurement thanks to this ECP and that would now be applied across to all parties. There will be a time when there would be another ECP who would then go after PMLN and PPP with similar yardsticks and as we have seen from Bilawal and BB allegations there is a possibility of far more severe conclusions. Finally, to put things into perspective here PTI's funding has now been inspected and concluded upon by an independent body and PTI has been in politics for 25 years (last 13 years have been their real active years). On flip side we have PMLN and PPP which have been in politics for almost 50 years now and have been active most of this time and no such inspection have been carried out on them.
PTI getting disqualified
Simply put this isn't happening. For this to come into effect PDM lawyers would have to successfully prove in Supreme Court that PTI was working against the interest of Pakistan and in the interest of its foreign contributing donors. This means that PDM would have to prove that by using prohibited funds of $150k PTI was able to influence how Pakistan is currently running and make decisions in interest of donors. The influencing part and decisions made for others beneficial interest would have to be proved with evidence rather than hearsay. If PDM can prove that with $150k Pakistan's stability is at risk then hats off to them literally. Some people make that much in a month while here we are that PTI gathered this sum over a period of 4 years which was immense to de-stabilise the country. Good luck in proving this in SC.
IK would be disqualified
So there is a lot of noise that a certificate issued by IK stating that to the best of his knowledge his party does not have prohibited funding is enough to prove he is a massive liar and a threat to the country and hence should be disqualified. First things first here, we have a certification from IK rather than an oath or declaration about personal interest for which he is accountable. So I'm quite confident that this will not hold much legal weightage.
Secondly let's take the example of the current prohibited funding case. In the verdict the CEC and other judges have declared and signed that they have carried out investigations and have found the following discrepancies in the finances of PTI. This means that CEC is responsible and is taking responsibility of the conclusion of this case. Now if PTI goes to review petition and literally thrashes the conclusion of the verdict i.e. prove that the money is from overseas Pakistani then would this mean that CEC resign from his post as its proven he has signed off on verdict that is grossly inaccurate? Legit question here if the findings by CEC is pure non-sense then why is he holding that post in first place. From all that I have read so far there are 2 grave mistakes in the verdict of CEC a) The individuals listed as foreigners are coming forward as overseas pakistani and hence their funding is legit (case of Mrs Shetty) b) The foreign companies that were said from whom prohibited funding is received only falls in the category of prohibited funding when the law was amended in 2017 i.e. how can a funding received from foreign companies in 2012 be prohibited when the actual law to prohibit it came into effect in 2017? Hence several gross mistakes in CEC actual conclusion / finding can actually land him in hot waters.
Further speaking of certifications. Didn't Shahbaz certify that his brother would come back in 4 weeks? This guy did this in Parliament of all places. Also didn't both PMLN and PPP certify and signed the charter of democracy and then ended up breaking most of its stated clauses, does that hold no legal ramifications? What about any institute providing certification that its member is a qualified personal and then if that member commits a wrongdoing then would the chairman of that institute be responsible? For example, a doctor certified by a body commits gross negligence resulting in fatality would the body be responsible as to why the certification was issued to the doctor? Overall, this noise over certification would not stick in any court room.
So as mentioned the aforementioned dreams of PDM would end up being just dreams. I would also like to highlight certain aspect of the verdict that no one is talking much about. Firstly, no where in the verdict there was anything mentioned about incomplete data over sources of funds which implies that PTI was successfully able to provide all the details of its party funding to the commission. It would also be good for PTI to come out and mention the overall funding raised in these 4 years and of that what % is this $150k representing to paint a more clear picture. In cases of PMLN and PPP the biggest issue would be over the completeness of information around funding. Therefore, PTI can play this card that they were able to present complete funding details whilst others can't. Secondly, now that the verdict is out PTI can ask ECP to upload all the case details including supporting information on the website for public to see. This would be a confidence booster for PTI.
I'm very certain that there would be no work done on PMLN and PPP funding cases whilst this ECP is still in power. However what has happened now is that there is a yardstick which would be used for measurement thanks to this ECP and that would now be applied across to all parties. There will be a time when there would be another ECP who would then go after PMLN and PPP with similar yardsticks and as we have seen from Bilawal and BB allegations there is a possibility of far more severe conclusions. Finally, to put things into perspective here PTI's funding has now been inspected and concluded upon by an independent body and PTI has been in politics for 25 years (last 13 years have been their real active years). On flip side we have PMLN and PPP which have been in politics for almost 50 years now and have been active most of this time and no such inspection have been carried out on them.
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Following a strict warning by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, the PTI on Thursday changed its protest venue, urging its supporters to gather at Islamabad's F9 Park to demonstrate against the Election Commission of Pakistan and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced holding a peaceful protest outside of the ECP on Thursday (today), demanding the CEC's resignation.
On Wednesday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned PTI of strict actions against those who try to enter the Red Zone and sealed the area with shipping containers.
The PTI’s workers can attack the election commission, he said, adding that they, however, should remember that the Islamabad High Court has imposed restrictions on staging protests in the Red Zone.
“Protests are strictly prohibited in the Red Zone and if someone tries to enter the area, they shouldn’t complain about the consequences of their actions later,” he said, highlighting that there are some selected venues where the PTI can stage a "peaceful protest as it was everybody’s right in the democratic era."
PTI changes protest venue
Taking to his Twitter handle today, PTI Chairman Imran Khan issued a new protest call and directed his supporters to gather at Islamabad's F9 Park to stage a protest against CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja.
"Today I am calling all our people to come out in peaceful public protest against CEC & ECP in F9 Park at 6pm," he wrote.
The former prime minister said he will be addressing the gathering between 7pm and 7:30pm.
Islamabad’s Red Zone sealed
In anticipation of disturbance, Islamabad's district administration sealed the Red Zone and placed containers at the entry points of the federal capital.
Personnel of law enforcement agencies including anti-riot force, Rangers, FC and police have been deployed around the Red Zone.
PTI allowed to hold public gathering at F-9 Park
As the party decided to change the protest venue, the Islamabad district administration allowed the PTI to hold public gathering at the F-9 Park or in Sector H-9 today.
According to the notification issued by the district administering, the party will have to comply with the rules and regulations set by the authorities.
TheNews
Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced holding a peaceful protest outside of the ECP on Thursday (today), demanding the CEC's resignation.
On Wednesday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned PTI of strict actions against those who try to enter the Red Zone and sealed the area with shipping containers.
The PTI’s workers can attack the election commission, he said, adding that they, however, should remember that the Islamabad High Court has imposed restrictions on staging protests in the Red Zone.
“Protests are strictly prohibited in the Red Zone and if someone tries to enter the area, they shouldn’t complain about the consequences of their actions later,” he said, highlighting that there are some selected venues where the PTI can stage a "peaceful protest as it was everybody’s right in the democratic era."
PTI changes protest venue
Taking to his Twitter handle today, PTI Chairman Imran Khan issued a new protest call and directed his supporters to gather at Islamabad's F9 Park to stage a protest against CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja.
"Today I am calling all our people to come out in peaceful public protest against CEC & ECP in F9 Park at 6pm," he wrote.
The former prime minister said he will be addressing the gathering between 7pm and 7:30pm.
Islamabad’s Red Zone sealed
In anticipation of disturbance, Islamabad's district administration sealed the Red Zone and placed containers at the entry points of the federal capital.
Personnel of law enforcement agencies including anti-riot force, Rangers, FC and police have been deployed around the Red Zone.
PTI allowed to hold public gathering at F-9 Park
As the party decided to change the protest venue, the Islamabad district administration allowed the PTI to hold public gathering at the F-9 Park or in Sector H-9 today.
According to the notification issued by the district administering, the party will have to comply with the rules and regulations set by the authorities.
TheNews
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Taking money from foreign companies wasn’t illegal in 2012: Imran Khan
PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday hit back at the Election Commission of Pakistan’s verdict in the PTI prohibited funding case saying that taking money from foreign companies wasn’t illegal in 2012.
In an address to supporters via video link, he claimed that PTI was the only party that raised money through political fundraising, unlike other parties (PML-N and PPP) which he said were run by “mafias”.
Imran said that across the world, political parties raised money by hosting dinners. He explained that the donations during those events were later given to the party.
“Ask these two parties why don’t they do this. I will tell you […] because they know no one will give them money.
“And this is the reason why I kept demanding that all the parties should be investigated together. The nation should know how they raise money,” he said, alleging that ECP’s verdict proved that it couldn’t see PTI succeeding.
“It is saying that that money raised by overseas Pakistanis is wrong. They are calling it foreign funding,” Imran stated. “Tell me, if this money is foreign funding, then what about the remittances and the money that is sent for earthquakes and floods?
“The ECP is almost saying that money sent by overseas Pakistanis will be regarded as foreign funding,” he said.
Scores of PTI supporters gathered at Islamabad’s F-9 park on Thursday evening to protest against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja on the call of party chief Imran Khan.
Decked in red and green scarves and bands, the crowd chanted slogans against the electoral body and demanded the resignation of all its officials.
The protest comes after ECP passed its verdict in the PTI prohibited funding case. In the August 2 judgment, it had declared PTI to be a “foreign-funded party”.
Imran and his party members had rejected the decision, calling it “illegal and unconstitutional”.
DAWN
PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday hit back at the Election Commission of Pakistan’s verdict in the PTI prohibited funding case saying that taking money from foreign companies wasn’t illegal in 2012.
In an address to supporters via video link, he claimed that PTI was the only party that raised money through political fundraising, unlike other parties (PML-N and PPP) which he said were run by “mafias”.
Imran said that across the world, political parties raised money by hosting dinners. He explained that the donations during those events were later given to the party.
“Ask these two parties why don’t they do this. I will tell you […] because they know no one will give them money.
“And this is the reason why I kept demanding that all the parties should be investigated together. The nation should know how they raise money,” he said, alleging that ECP’s verdict proved that it couldn’t see PTI succeeding.
“It is saying that that money raised by overseas Pakistanis is wrong. They are calling it foreign funding,” Imran stated. “Tell me, if this money is foreign funding, then what about the remittances and the money that is sent for earthquakes and floods?
“The ECP is almost saying that money sent by overseas Pakistanis will be regarded as foreign funding,” he said.
Scores of PTI supporters gathered at Islamabad’s F-9 park on Thursday evening to protest against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja on the call of party chief Imran Khan.
Decked in red and green scarves and bands, the crowd chanted slogans against the electoral body and demanded the resignation of all its officials.
The protest comes after ECP passed its verdict in the PTI prohibited funding case. In the August 2 judgment, it had declared PTI to be a “foreign-funded party”.
Imran and his party members had rejected the decision, calling it “illegal and unconstitutional”.
DAWN
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Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday announced that the government had decided to send a declaration against the PTI to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in light of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision, which ruled that the party had indeed taken prohibited funding.
“The decision [announced by the ECP] has clearly proven that PTI is a foreign-aided party,” she asserted, explaining that under the law and Constitution, the government was now bound to send a declaration to the apex court.
Aurangzeb said that the law ministry had been given a time of three days to prepare the declaration and present it in the next federal cabinet meeting.
The government’s decision comes after the electoral body, in its long-delayed verdict, had ruled that PTI had “wilfully” and “knowingly” received prohibited funding — which include a number of foreign donors.
In its order, the commission also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes”.
In a press conference after the federal cabinet meeting today, Aurangzeb said that action against the PTI will be taken under the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002 and Election Act 2017.
She stated that the case was extremely important because it was now proven that PTI had 16 undeclared accounts. “The party took ownership of only 8 [accounts] out of 26.
“The money kept coming in but it was not declared,” she pointed out, adding that the PTI took 51 adjournments during the proceedings of the prohibited funding case over the period of eight years and received funding from 351 foreign companies which she said was a crime under Pakistan’s law.
‘FIA to probe prohibited funding’
Meanwhile, the minister said that another important decision that was taken in the cabinet meeting was that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will be given the task of investigating the funding case.
“Cabinet has given instructions to the FIA and interior ministry to conduct an independent inquiry and investigation into money laundering, fake accounts and misappropriation of funds.”
Aurangzeb revealed that all the financial institutions such as the FIA and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had begun probing all the individuals involved in the crime.
She went on to say that the PML-N government was unlike other governments and vowed that nothing will be done through backdoors
DAWN
“The decision [announced by the ECP] has clearly proven that PTI is a foreign-aided party,” she asserted, explaining that under the law and Constitution, the government was now bound to send a declaration to the apex court.
Aurangzeb said that the law ministry had been given a time of three days to prepare the declaration and present it in the next federal cabinet meeting.
The government’s decision comes after the electoral body, in its long-delayed verdict, had ruled that PTI had “wilfully” and “knowingly” received prohibited funding — which include a number of foreign donors.
In its order, the commission also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes”.
In a press conference after the federal cabinet meeting today, Aurangzeb said that action against the PTI will be taken under the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002 and Election Act 2017.
She stated that the case was extremely important because it was now proven that PTI had 16 undeclared accounts. “The party took ownership of only 8 [accounts] out of 26.
“The money kept coming in but it was not declared,” she pointed out, adding that the PTI took 51 adjournments during the proceedings of the prohibited funding case over the period of eight years and received funding from 351 foreign companies which she said was a crime under Pakistan’s law.
‘FIA to probe prohibited funding’
Meanwhile, the minister said that another important decision that was taken in the cabinet meeting was that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will be given the task of investigating the funding case.
“Cabinet has given instructions to the FIA and interior ministry to conduct an independent inquiry and investigation into money laundering, fake accounts and misappropriation of funds.”
Aurangzeb revealed that all the financial institutions such as the FIA and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had begun probing all the individuals involved in the crime.
She went on to say that the PML-N government was unlike other governments and vowed that nothing will be done through backdoors
DAWN
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A group of MNAs associated with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — a multi-party alliance with representation of ruling PML-N — on Thursday filed a reference with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking the disqualification of former prime minister Imran Khan from holding public office for allegedly receiving prohibited funding from a number of foreign donors.
The reference was submitted by MNA Barrister Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, carrying signatures of lawmakers Agha Hassan Baloch, Salahudeen Ayubi, Ali Gohar Khan, Syed Rafiullah Agha and Saad Waseem Sheikh.
In its verdict on Tuesday, the election watchdog ruled that PTI had “wilfully” and “knowingly” received prohibited funding from a number of foreign donors. In its order, the commission had also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes”.
The ruling coalition began demanding disqualification of and strict legal action against the PTI chief soon after the ECP announced its verdict in the case.
On Tuesday, PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman pressed upon the government to "make an example" out of Imran Khan.
“A reference should be filed against Imran Khan as he is no more Sadiq and Amin (truthful and honest),” the PDM leader had said at a press conference after a meeting of the multi-party alliance at the PM House on Wednesday to decide the line of action against Imran.
The reference filed today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, demanded the ECP to disqualify Imran under Sections 2 and 3 of Article 63 of the Constitution, read with Article 62(1)(f). It also carried documentary evidence to corroborate their claims against the ex-PM.
Article 62(1)(f) says: "A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless [...] he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law."
Article 63(2) says: "If any question arises whether a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) has become disqualified from being a member, the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Chairman shall, unless he decides that no such question has arisen, refer the question to the Election Commission within thirty days and should he fail to do so within the aforesaid period it shall be deemed to have been referred to the Election Commission."
While, Article 63(3) reads: "The Election Commission shall decide the question within ninety days from its receipt or deemed to have been received and if it is of the opinion that the member has become disqualified, he shall cease to be a member and his seat shall become vacant."
It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI had on Wednesday moved a reference before the Supreme Judicial Council against CEC Raja on Wednesday.
DAWN
The reference was submitted by MNA Barrister Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, carrying signatures of lawmakers Agha Hassan Baloch, Salahudeen Ayubi, Ali Gohar Khan, Syed Rafiullah Agha and Saad Waseem Sheikh.
In its verdict on Tuesday, the election watchdog ruled that PTI had “wilfully” and “knowingly” received prohibited funding from a number of foreign donors. In its order, the commission had also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes”.
The ruling coalition began demanding disqualification of and strict legal action against the PTI chief soon after the ECP announced its verdict in the case.
On Tuesday, PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman pressed upon the government to "make an example" out of Imran Khan.
“A reference should be filed against Imran Khan as he is no more Sadiq and Amin (truthful and honest),” the PDM leader had said at a press conference after a meeting of the multi-party alliance at the PM House on Wednesday to decide the line of action against Imran.
The reference filed today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, demanded the ECP to disqualify Imran under Sections 2 and 3 of Article 63 of the Constitution, read with Article 62(1)(f). It also carried documentary evidence to corroborate their claims against the ex-PM.
Article 62(1)(f) says: "A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless [...] he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law."
Article 63(2) says: "If any question arises whether a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) has become disqualified from being a member, the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Chairman shall, unless he decides that no such question has arisen, refer the question to the Election Commission within thirty days and should he fail to do so within the aforesaid period it shall be deemed to have been referred to the Election Commission."
While, Article 63(3) reads: "The Election Commission shall decide the question within ninety days from its receipt or deemed to have been received and if it is of the opinion that the member has become disqualified, he shall cease to be a member and his seat shall become vacant."
It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI had on Wednesday moved a reference before the Supreme Judicial Council against CEC Raja on Wednesday.
DAWN
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Over the decades, Imran Niazi has decieved people in the name of honesty, transparency & accountability. The foreign funding verdict has busted his claims & showed him for what he actually is: a con man. The coalition government will take the verdict to its logical conclusion.</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1555233041643192322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For 8 years, Imran Niazi used all means, fair & foul, to delay the judgment. It includes 9 petitions in IHC & over 50 adjournments. For 5 years, he willfully & knowingly submitted false affidavits. It is proven now that PTI is a foreign-aided party without any shadow of doubt.</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1555233047779352579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For 8 years, Imran Niazi used all means, fair & foul, to delay the judgment. It includes 9 petitions in IHC & over 50 adjournments. For 5 years, he willfully & knowingly submitted false affidavits. It is proven now that PTI is a foreign-aided party without any shadow of doubt.</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1555233047779352579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has said that the ruling alliance after failing in its all attempts to control the “people of Pakistan” is now trying to steal the public mandate through the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), terming the electoral body a major hurdle in achieving “real freedom” through strong democracy.
“They [incumbent government] bought the loyalties of our people then they used money in an attempt to break our party and after suffering a shock defeat in Punjab by-elections despite rigging attempts. They are now trying to control people through the ECP..,” he said while addressing the protesters gathered outside the ECP offices in various cities of the country via video link on Thursday.
The ousted premier said the electoral authority went beyond its limits and met a PML-N delegation wherein the ruling alliance leaders urged the ECP to announce the verdict in PTI prohibited funding case at the earliest.
The PTI chief said the incumbent rulers were worried about the public reaction and after realising that they could not silence them through intimidation they were now trying to control them through the top electoral body.
“They can enslave the people through the ECP as it can manipulate polls. I introduced EVMs [electronic voting machines] so that secret hands don’t rig the elections,” he added.
Citing an independent watchdog report, Imran said as many as 163 ways to rig the elections which can be eliminated through using EVMs. “India and Iran are also using the same technology as well.”
The ECP in cahoots with the government sabotaged our plan to introduce EVMs. “They wanted to control the people of Pakistan.. it means you cannot elect or topple any government through your votes.”
Without naming anyone, Imran said some powers in the country wanted to control the country by manipulating elections and for this reason his all attempts to stop rigging and horse-trading in the polls were “sabotaged” by the ECP.
“I demanded a show of hand voting method in the Senate. The ECP remained indifferent to rigging and horse-trading during several by-elections,” he added.
‘Difference between foreign and prohibited funding’
The PTI chief while commenting on the ECP verdict in the prohibited funding case said receiving funds from overseas Pakistanis was not foreign funding. “Receiving funds from foreign countries or companies which can influence your policies is foreign funding.”
He said his party did not commit any wrongdoing by raising funds for his party from overseas Pakistanis, saying the ECP ’wrongly’ termed donations from expatriates as foreign funding.
“Many renowned people formed their political parties but could not succeed because they did not have sources of funding.”
He said two “mafias” – the PPP and the PML-N – used ill-gotten money to fund their political campaign “because no one would donate their money for political purposes”.
“The PTI was the first party in the country which collected money through political fundraising”
He said his party established a company in the US because it was illegal in America to raise funds without a limited liability company (LLC).
The ousted prime minister said the law which barred parties from receiving funds from companies was enacted in 2017 whereas the PTI received funds in 2012, hence “no illegality was committed”.
Express Tribune
“They [incumbent government] bought the loyalties of our people then they used money in an attempt to break our party and after suffering a shock defeat in Punjab by-elections despite rigging attempts. They are now trying to control people through the ECP..,” he said while addressing the protesters gathered outside the ECP offices in various cities of the country via video link on Thursday.
The ousted premier said the electoral authority went beyond its limits and met a PML-N delegation wherein the ruling alliance leaders urged the ECP to announce the verdict in PTI prohibited funding case at the earliest.
The PTI chief said the incumbent rulers were worried about the public reaction and after realising that they could not silence them through intimidation they were now trying to control them through the top electoral body.
“They can enslave the people through the ECP as it can manipulate polls. I introduced EVMs [electronic voting machines] so that secret hands don’t rig the elections,” he added.
Citing an independent watchdog report, Imran said as many as 163 ways to rig the elections which can be eliminated through using EVMs. “India and Iran are also using the same technology as well.”
The ECP in cahoots with the government sabotaged our plan to introduce EVMs. “They wanted to control the people of Pakistan.. it means you cannot elect or topple any government through your votes.”
Without naming anyone, Imran said some powers in the country wanted to control the country by manipulating elections and for this reason his all attempts to stop rigging and horse-trading in the polls were “sabotaged” by the ECP.
“I demanded a show of hand voting method in the Senate. The ECP remained indifferent to rigging and horse-trading during several by-elections,” he added.
‘Difference between foreign and prohibited funding’
The PTI chief while commenting on the ECP verdict in the prohibited funding case said receiving funds from overseas Pakistanis was not foreign funding. “Receiving funds from foreign countries or companies which can influence your policies is foreign funding.”
He said his party did not commit any wrongdoing by raising funds for his party from overseas Pakistanis, saying the ECP ’wrongly’ termed donations from expatriates as foreign funding.
“Many renowned people formed their political parties but could not succeed because they did not have sources of funding.”
He said two “mafias” – the PPP and the PML-N – used ill-gotten money to fund their political campaign “because no one would donate their money for political purposes”.
“The PTI was the first party in the country which collected money through political fundraising”
He said his party established a company in the US because it was illegal in America to raise funds without a limited liability company (LLC).
The ousted prime minister said the law which barred parties from receiving funds from companies was enacted in 2017 whereas the PTI received funds in 2012, hence “no illegality was committed”.
Express Tribune
JaDed
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Cant believe people still give into this nonsense. PML must be the most vile National party of Pakistan ever.
iRfaN_LA
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PML is a party of illiterates and dacoits. During 1990s, they used to fool people due to lack of access to information. However, the public is aware now. These are just desperate tactics from these guys, they will fail miserably to win people's trust.
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The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) withdrew a reference against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on Thursday, a day after filing it with the Supreme Judicial Council, to add more evidence and highlight further legal aspects.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry told journalists in Islamabad the reference would be filed again after adding more evidence against the CEC, including amendments to the initial verdict and subsequent addition.
Moved through Babar Awan, the reference pleaded with the SJC to order the removal of the CEC on account of the “commission of continuous and deliberate misconduct”.
The reference alleged that on July 29, a delegation of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) met the CEC and four other members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in his office to “pressure” him into announcing the verdict on the PTI prohibited funding case.
Fawad Chaudhry says reference to be filed again after considering additional aspects, including amendments to initial verdict
It was a consequence of that meeting that the ECP decided to deliver the verdict on Aug 2, the reference alleged, adding that by doing so the CEC had allegedly violated his oath.
The reference contended that the ECP’s decision was illegal, unlawful and coram non judice, i.e. before a court that lacks the authority to hear and decide the case.
It said the PTI would challenge the order in court and the CEC had violated the ECP’s code of conduct and failed to fulfil his constitutional obligations.
The code of conduct for judges of the superior judiciary applied to the chief election commissioner as well, the PTI said, adding that a high court judge never discussed pending cases with any person or institution.
“The CEC must be removed from one of the most respectable and sacred constitutional posts,” the reference said.
CEC Sultan Raja had dismissed many PTI applications in the prohibited funding case, including a request to conduct a joint hearing in funding cases of PTI and other parties, the reference said.
It said the Islamabad High Court had provided relief to the PTI, asking the ECP to extend equal treatment to all political parties and to hear their cases with due diligence and conclude these within a reasonable time.
Instead, the ECP announced a verdict in the PTI case only and kept the cases of other parties in abeyance, the reference said and described it as “absolute discrimination”.
It was a routine matter that judges of the Supreme Court meet members of the Pakistan Bar Council, the Supreme Court Bar Association and other lawyer forums, but it had been observed recently that the apex court refused to meet a delegation of the Supreme Court Bar Association during hearing of the suo motu petition under article 184(3) of the Constitution in the “Parvez Elahi versus Deputy Speaker, Punjab Assembly” case since it was one of the parties in the proceedings, it said.
The same rule applied to the CEC, the reference said, but he not only met the PDM delegation but also admitted that a discussion did take place on the timing of the judgement in PTI prohibited funding case.
Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2022
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry told journalists in Islamabad the reference would be filed again after adding more evidence against the CEC, including amendments to the initial verdict and subsequent addition.
Moved through Babar Awan, the reference pleaded with the SJC to order the removal of the CEC on account of the “commission of continuous and deliberate misconduct”.
The reference alleged that on July 29, a delegation of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) met the CEC and four other members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in his office to “pressure” him into announcing the verdict on the PTI prohibited funding case.
Fawad Chaudhry says reference to be filed again after considering additional aspects, including amendments to initial verdict
It was a consequence of that meeting that the ECP decided to deliver the verdict on Aug 2, the reference alleged, adding that by doing so the CEC had allegedly violated his oath.
The reference contended that the ECP’s decision was illegal, unlawful and coram non judice, i.e. before a court that lacks the authority to hear and decide the case.
It said the PTI would challenge the order in court and the CEC had violated the ECP’s code of conduct and failed to fulfil his constitutional obligations.
The code of conduct for judges of the superior judiciary applied to the chief election commissioner as well, the PTI said, adding that a high court judge never discussed pending cases with any person or institution.
“The CEC must be removed from one of the most respectable and sacred constitutional posts,” the reference said.
CEC Sultan Raja had dismissed many PTI applications in the prohibited funding case, including a request to conduct a joint hearing in funding cases of PTI and other parties, the reference said.
It said the Islamabad High Court had provided relief to the PTI, asking the ECP to extend equal treatment to all political parties and to hear their cases with due diligence and conclude these within a reasonable time.
Instead, the ECP announced a verdict in the PTI case only and kept the cases of other parties in abeyance, the reference said and described it as “absolute discrimination”.
It was a routine matter that judges of the Supreme Court meet members of the Pakistan Bar Council, the Supreme Court Bar Association and other lawyer forums, but it had been observed recently that the apex court refused to meet a delegation of the Supreme Court Bar Association during hearing of the suo motu petition under article 184(3) of the Constitution in the “Parvez Elahi versus Deputy Speaker, Punjab Assembly” case since it was one of the parties in the proceedings, it said.
The same rule applied to the CEC, the reference said, but he not only met the PDM delegation but also admitted that a discussion did take place on the timing of the judgement in PTI prohibited funding case.
Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2022
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday asked Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to make their sources of funding public, ARY News reported.
While talking to ARY News programme 11th Hour, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that there was a prohibited funding case against PTI but not foreign funding. He said that the wishes of the political rivals will not be fulfilled to disqualify Imran Khan.
Qureshi said that PTI will reply the show-cause notice of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and its verdict will be challenged as well. He added that PTI has capability to fight on legal and political fronts.
The PTI vice-chairman said that the conspiracies of the coalition government will be failed.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and demanded the resignations of the members of the election body including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The PTI Senators, MNAs, and other party leaders including Asad Umar, Omar Ayub, and Sheikh Rasheed marched toward the ECP office in Islamabad and chanted slogans against the incumbent CEC who they termed as biased toward the party.
“We have come here to submit charter of demands to the commission,” Asad Umar said, demanding that the members of the ECP should resign to uphold the supremacy of law and the Constitution.
He demanded that the political instability should be ended through restructuring the incumbent ECP.
The party leaders were stopped by law enforcers initially to march towards the ECP office; however, they were later allowed to go to the gate and submit an MoU, demanding the resignation of CEC and other ECP members to a representative of the commission.
While talking to ARY News programme 11th Hour, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that there was a prohibited funding case against PTI but not foreign funding. He said that the wishes of the political rivals will not be fulfilled to disqualify Imran Khan.
Qureshi said that PTI will reply the show-cause notice of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and its verdict will be challenged as well. He added that PTI has capability to fight on legal and political fronts.
The PTI vice-chairman said that the conspiracies of the coalition government will be failed.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and demanded the resignations of the members of the election body including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The PTI Senators, MNAs, and other party leaders including Asad Umar, Omar Ayub, and Sheikh Rasheed marched toward the ECP office in Islamabad and chanted slogans against the incumbent CEC who they termed as biased toward the party.
“We have come here to submit charter of demands to the commission,” Asad Umar said, demanding that the members of the ECP should resign to uphold the supremacy of law and the Constitution.
He demanded that the political instability should be ended through restructuring the incumbent ECP.
The party leaders were stopped by law enforcers initially to march towards the ECP office; however, they were later allowed to go to the gate and submit an MoU, demanding the resignation of CEC and other ECP members to a representative of the commission.
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The federal cabinet Thursday decided to send a declaration against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leadership to the Supreme Court, and directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to launch an inquiry against the party leaders for start of criminal proceedings against them on the charges of money-laundering and misuse of charity funds for political purposes.
“As per the ECP verdict, the federal cabinet has decided in principle to send a declaration to the Supreme Court and the FIA is being asked to launch an inquiry for start of criminal proceedings,” Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said while briefing the media on the cabinet decisions.
The ECP verdict, which was announced under Political Parties Order (PPO), 2002, declared the PTI as a foreign-funded party. “Imran Khan, as the PTI chairman, knowingly and willingly submitted false affidavits and declarations with the ECP for five years,” the minister said, adding that the ECP decision also used words ‘knowingly’ and ‘willingly’ and it declared the PTI as a party which received foreign funds from foreign companies and nationals.
The minister said that during the cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a briefing was given by the law minister on legal aspects of the ECP verdict. She said the law minister was given three-day time after Ashura to present the declaration before the cabinet for detailed deliberations on all its legal and constitutional aspects, and its approval before it was filed with the Supreme Court for further action.
Marriyum pointed out that the PTI was a political rival of the government, but the ECP announced its decision as per the Elections Act, 2017 and the Political Parties Order, 2002. She said declaration against the PTI leadership would be filed in the SC for action under the Political Parties Order, 2002. “The ECP decision not only mentions false affidavits of Imran Khan but also gives a complete money trail and the same proved that the PTI is a foreign-funded party,” she said.
The minister said the PTI chairman, in his five affidavits, knowingly signed the statement, which said that according to the best of his knowledge and belief, the financial position of the party and other details were correct and no funds were obtained from prohibited sources, as per PPO, 2002.
She also recalled that the PTI sought 51 adjournments, filed 11 petitions with the high court and changed nine lawyers which showed that they were complete time to respond. “Now they are giving responses on television channels, but it could have been better had they done so in last eight years,” she said.
The minister said the PTI leadership sought 51 adjournments but submitted no concrete replies and attempted to escape from the ECP. “The interpretation of Constitution and law cannot be different in this case, and the federal cabinet also acted in the same spirit,” the minister said.
She said the PTI did not declare 16 accounts, though those were opened in the name of Imran Khan, other PTI leaders and employees working in the party secretariat. She said the interior minister had been asked to direct the FIA to launch an independent and impartial inquiry against the PTI leadership, while looking at aspects of money-laundering, misappropriation of funds and misuse of charity funds for political purposes.
“This is a big decision. For the first time in the country’s history, a party has been declared as a foreign-aided party. The decision says that personal accounts were used to receive foreign funding for the party, and the same also makes it a case of fraud,” she said adding that the inquiry would also find as to where the foreign funds were utilised.
She said the FIA inquiry would also have inputs from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other concerned organisations.
To a question whether any decision was taken to put names of Imran Khan and other PTI leaders on the Exit Control List (ECL), she said the coalition government was different from the previous regime, which used to arrest political leaders and put their names on ECL. “We want to follow the legal course as per law of the land and the ECP verdict,” she said.
She told a questioner that filing a declaration against the PTI leadership and start of the FIA was not demand of the federal cabinet, but it acted as per Constitution and law in the light of the ECP verdict. “This is not our demand but we are bound to act as per the Constitution and law,” she said.
TheNews
“As per the ECP verdict, the federal cabinet has decided in principle to send a declaration to the Supreme Court and the FIA is being asked to launch an inquiry for start of criminal proceedings,” Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said while briefing the media on the cabinet decisions.
The ECP verdict, which was announced under Political Parties Order (PPO), 2002, declared the PTI as a foreign-funded party. “Imran Khan, as the PTI chairman, knowingly and willingly submitted false affidavits and declarations with the ECP for five years,” the minister said, adding that the ECP decision also used words ‘knowingly’ and ‘willingly’ and it declared the PTI as a party which received foreign funds from foreign companies and nationals.
The minister said that during the cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a briefing was given by the law minister on legal aspects of the ECP verdict. She said the law minister was given three-day time after Ashura to present the declaration before the cabinet for detailed deliberations on all its legal and constitutional aspects, and its approval before it was filed with the Supreme Court for further action.
Marriyum pointed out that the PTI was a political rival of the government, but the ECP announced its decision as per the Elections Act, 2017 and the Political Parties Order, 2002. She said declaration against the PTI leadership would be filed in the SC for action under the Political Parties Order, 2002. “The ECP decision not only mentions false affidavits of Imran Khan but also gives a complete money trail and the same proved that the PTI is a foreign-funded party,” she said.
The minister said the PTI chairman, in his five affidavits, knowingly signed the statement, which said that according to the best of his knowledge and belief, the financial position of the party and other details were correct and no funds were obtained from prohibited sources, as per PPO, 2002.
She also recalled that the PTI sought 51 adjournments, filed 11 petitions with the high court and changed nine lawyers which showed that they were complete time to respond. “Now they are giving responses on television channels, but it could have been better had they done so in last eight years,” she said.
The minister said the PTI leadership sought 51 adjournments but submitted no concrete replies and attempted to escape from the ECP. “The interpretation of Constitution and law cannot be different in this case, and the federal cabinet also acted in the same spirit,” the minister said.
She said the PTI did not declare 16 accounts, though those were opened in the name of Imran Khan, other PTI leaders and employees working in the party secretariat. She said the interior minister had been asked to direct the FIA to launch an independent and impartial inquiry against the PTI leadership, while looking at aspects of money-laundering, misappropriation of funds and misuse of charity funds for political purposes.
“This is a big decision. For the first time in the country’s history, a party has been declared as a foreign-aided party. The decision says that personal accounts were used to receive foreign funding for the party, and the same also makes it a case of fraud,” she said adding that the inquiry would also find as to where the foreign funds were utilised.
She said the FIA inquiry would also have inputs from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other concerned organisations.
To a question whether any decision was taken to put names of Imran Khan and other PTI leaders on the Exit Control List (ECL), she said the coalition government was different from the previous regime, which used to arrest political leaders and put their names on ECL. “We want to follow the legal course as per law of the land and the ECP verdict,” she said.
She told a questioner that filing a declaration against the PTI leadership and start of the FIA was not demand of the federal cabinet, but it acted as per Constitution and law in the light of the ECP verdict. “This is not our demand but we are bound to act as per the Constitution and law,” she said.
TheNews
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The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued a notice to PTI chairman Imran Khan and summoned him on August 23 in the prohibited funding case, in which it had ruled that the party had received foreign funds.
According to the ECP website, the case titled “Notice to Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in terms of Rule 6 of Political Parties Rule 2006, in compliance of judgment by the commission dated August 2 in case title Akbar Sher Babar” has been fixed for hearing on August 23, at 10am.
Earlier this week, the electoral body, in a unanimous verdict, ruled that the PTI did indeed receive prohibited funding and issued a notice to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar (CEC) Sultan Raja had passed the judgment in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar pending since November 14, 2014.
In the written verdict, the commission noted that the party “knowingly and willfully” received funding from Wootton Cricket Limited, operated by business tycoon Arif Naqvi. The party was a “willing recipient” of prohibited money of $2,121,500, it said.
The ECP said that the party “knowingly and willfully” also received donations from Bristol Engineering Services (a UAE-based company), E-Planet Trustees (a Cayman Islands private registered company), SS Marketing Manchester (a UK-based private company), PTI USA LLC-6160 and PTI USA LLC-5975 which were “hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws”.
It went on to say that the party also received donations through PTI Canada Corporation and PTI UK Public Limited Company. “From both the companies, the amounts received into its accounts of PTI Pakistan are hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws.”
Further, the party received donations from Australia-based company Dunpec Limited, and Pakistani companies Anwar Brothers, Zain Cotton and Young Sports which was again in violation of the law.
“PTI Pakistan, through fundraising campaigns by PTI USA LLC-6160 and PTI USA LLC-5975, was a recipient of donations from 34 foreign nationals and 351 foreign-based companies. Collection of donations and contributions from foreign nationals and companies are hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws,” it said.
The electoral watchdog also said that the PTI had been found to be a beneficiary of donations made by Romita Shetty, a US-based business woman of Indian-origin which was in violation of the law.
The ECP said the party had only owned eight accounts before the commission and declared 13 accounts to be unknown. “The data obtained from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reveals that all the 13 accounts disowned by the PTI were opened and operated by senior PTI management and leadership at [a] central and provincial level.”
The commission noted that the party also failed to mention three accounts which were also being operated by the party’s senior leadership. Non-disclosure and concealment of 16 bank accounts by the PTI is a “serious lapse” on part of the PTI’s leadership and in violation of Article 17(3) of the Constitution, it said.
Article 17(3) says: “Every political party shall account for the source of its funds in accordance with the law.”
The PTI chairman submitted Form-I for five years (between 2008-2013) which was found to be “grossly inaccurate on the basis of the financial statements obtained by this commission from SBP and other material available on record”.
“Therefore […] the matter falls within the ambit of Article 6(3) of Political Parties Order 2002 (PPO). Hence , the commission directs that a notice may be issued to the respondent party in terms of Rule 6 of the PPO as to why the aforementioned prohibited funds may not be confiscated. The office is also directed to initiate any other action under the law in light of this order of the commission, including forwarding the case to the federal government.”
Article 6(3) of the PPO states: “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 its order, the commission also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes.”
The PTI chairman has for five successive years submitted Form-I and signed a certificate which is not consistent with the accounting information before us, it said.
“Imran Khan, for the five years under review, has filed submissions that were grossly inaccurate and wrong. Even during the course of scrutiny and hearing by this commission, the PTI continued to conceal and withhold complete and full disclosure of [the] source of its funds,” it said.
Disqualification reference against Imran
Separately, the ECP has also accepted for hearing a reference seeking the disqualification of Imran from public office filed by a group of MNAs associated with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
It has been fixed for hearing on August 18, according to the commission’s website.
The reference was filed yesterday by MNA Barrister Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, carrying signatures of lawmakers Agha Hassan Baloch, Salahudeen Ayubi, Ali Gohar Khan, Syed Rafiullah Agha and Saad Waseem Sheikh.
It demanded the ECP to disqualify Imran under Sections 2 and 3 of Article 63 of the Constitution, read with Article 62(1)(f). It also carried documentary evidence to corroborate their claims against the ex-PM.
Article 62(1)(f) says: “A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless […] he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law.”
Article 63(2) says: “If any question arises whether a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) has become disqualified from being a member, the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Chairman shall, unless he decides that no such question has arisen, refer the question to the Election Commission within thirty days and should he fail to do so within the aforesaid period it shall be deemed to have been referred to the Election Commission.”
While, Article 63(3) reads: “The Election Commission shall decide the question within ninety days from its receipt or deemed to have been received and if it is of the opinion that the member has become disqualified, he shall cease to be a member and his seat shall become vacant.”
https://www.dawn.com/news/1703392/prohibited-funding-ecp-summons-imran-khan-on-aug-23
According to the ECP website, the case titled “Notice to Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in terms of Rule 6 of Political Parties Rule 2006, in compliance of judgment by the commission dated August 2 in case title Akbar Sher Babar” has been fixed for hearing on August 23, at 10am.
Earlier this week, the electoral body, in a unanimous verdict, ruled that the PTI did indeed receive prohibited funding and issued a notice to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar (CEC) Sultan Raja had passed the judgment in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar pending since November 14, 2014.
In the written verdict, the commission noted that the party “knowingly and willfully” received funding from Wootton Cricket Limited, operated by business tycoon Arif Naqvi. The party was a “willing recipient” of prohibited money of $2,121,500, it said.
The ECP said that the party “knowingly and willfully” also received donations from Bristol Engineering Services (a UAE-based company), E-Planet Trustees (a Cayman Islands private registered company), SS Marketing Manchester (a UK-based private company), PTI USA LLC-6160 and PTI USA LLC-5975 which were “hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws”.
It went on to say that the party also received donations through PTI Canada Corporation and PTI UK Public Limited Company. “From both the companies, the amounts received into its accounts of PTI Pakistan are hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws.”
Further, the party received donations from Australia-based company Dunpec Limited, and Pakistani companies Anwar Brothers, Zain Cotton and Young Sports which was again in violation of the law.
“PTI Pakistan, through fundraising campaigns by PTI USA LLC-6160 and PTI USA LLC-5975, was a recipient of donations from 34 foreign nationals and 351 foreign-based companies. Collection of donations and contributions from foreign nationals and companies are hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws,” it said.
The electoral watchdog also said that the PTI had been found to be a beneficiary of donations made by Romita Shetty, a US-based business woman of Indian-origin which was in violation of the law.
The ECP said the party had only owned eight accounts before the commission and declared 13 accounts to be unknown. “The data obtained from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reveals that all the 13 accounts disowned by the PTI were opened and operated by senior PTI management and leadership at [a] central and provincial level.”
The commission noted that the party also failed to mention three accounts which were also being operated by the party’s senior leadership. Non-disclosure and concealment of 16 bank accounts by the PTI is a “serious lapse” on part of the PTI’s leadership and in violation of Article 17(3) of the Constitution, it said.
Article 17(3) says: “Every political party shall account for the source of its funds in accordance with the law.”
The PTI chairman submitted Form-I for five years (between 2008-2013) which was found to be “grossly inaccurate on the basis of the financial statements obtained by this commission from SBP and other material available on record”.
“Therefore […] the matter falls within the ambit of Article 6(3) of Political Parties Order 2002 (PPO). Hence , the commission directs that a notice may be issued to the respondent party in terms of Rule 6 of the PPO as to why the aforementioned prohibited funds may not be confiscated. The office is also directed to initiate any other action under the law in light of this order of the commission, including forwarding the case to the federal government.”
Article 6(3) of the PPO states: “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 its order, the commission also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes.”
The PTI chairman has for five successive years submitted Form-I and signed a certificate which is not consistent with the accounting information before us, it said.
“Imran Khan, for the five years under review, has filed submissions that were grossly inaccurate and wrong. Even during the course of scrutiny and hearing by this commission, the PTI continued to conceal and withhold complete and full disclosure of [the] source of its funds,” it said.
Disqualification reference against Imran
Separately, the ECP has also accepted for hearing a reference seeking the disqualification of Imran from public office filed by a group of MNAs associated with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
It has been fixed for hearing on August 18, according to the commission’s website.
The reference was filed yesterday by MNA Barrister Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, carrying signatures of lawmakers Agha Hassan Baloch, Salahudeen Ayubi, Ali Gohar Khan, Syed Rafiullah Agha and Saad Waseem Sheikh.
It demanded the ECP to disqualify Imran under Sections 2 and 3 of Article 63 of the Constitution, read with Article 62(1)(f). It also carried documentary evidence to corroborate their claims against the ex-PM.
Article 62(1)(f) says: “A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless […] he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law.”
Article 63(2) says: “If any question arises whether a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) has become disqualified from being a member, the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Chairman shall, unless he decides that no such question has arisen, refer the question to the Election Commission within thirty days and should he fail to do so within the aforesaid period it shall be deemed to have been referred to the Election Commission.”
While, Article 63(3) reads: “The Election Commission shall decide the question within ninety days from its receipt or deemed to have been received and if it is of the opinion that the member has become disqualified, he shall cease to be a member and his seat shall become vacant.”
https://www.dawn.com/news/1703392/prohibited-funding-ecp-summons-imran-khan-on-aug-23
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Coalition government mouthpieces on Friday asked PTI chairman Imran Khan to name the “neutrals” who gave him guarantees over Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s appointment.
“We demand that you tell us the names of those neutrals,” PML-N’s Malik Ahmed Khan said in a press conference in Islamabad.
Khan and Ghani’s statements come in response to claims made by Imran in an interview to Express News earlier this week. The ex-premier had claimed that it was the neutrals — a euphemism he uses to describe the military establishment — who suggested Raja’s name as the CEC.
He had said that according to the 18th Amendment, heads of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), ECP and caretaker governments were supposed to be decided amicably by all the political parties.
“At the time of CEC’s appointment, there was a deadlock [among the parties]. So, the neutrals approached us and said that the country needed to move forward.
“They suggested Sikandar Sultan’s name. I didn’t even know him [back then]. But people told us that he was PML-N’s man,” Imran had said, adding that when he told the neutral about this, they guaranteed that the CEC would stay neutral.
Malik said: “Show some spine and tell us who were the neutrals who gave you this guarantee.
“Did [Army chief] General Bajwa say this to you? And if yes, then please have some audacity […] have some courage […] then say it. If General Faiz Hameed said this, then please take his name and say it plainly,” he said.
“So tell us. Who gave you this guarantee that the CEC will stay neutral? You said it on television. Tell us.”
Malik further went on to ask Imran: “Where did the neutrals come in? If you, or any member of your party, has the courage, come forward and name them. Also, tell us who do you call ‘neutral’? Is it the army chief or the DG ISI or the institution?”
The PML-N leader alleged that it seemed as if the PTI chief uses the word “neutral” to demean the institution and reiterated that Imran should substantiate his comments in public.
Separately, talking to media persons in Karachi, PPP provincial minister Saeed Ghani put forward a similar question. He said that Imran himself appointed the election commissioner and then blamed the “neutrals” for it.
“Who from the neutrals said it? Tell us the name,” he asked. “It will be more fun when he says the name — just ask him.
“Neutrals aren’t just a thing. There must be some people who he [Imran] said passed instructions or pressurised or suggested the [CEC’s] name […] tell us their names. Who said this to you?”
Ghani then reiterated that Imran would not reveal the names of the “neutrals”, adding that Imran called others “boot polisher” but himself admitted that the “neutrals” influenced his government’s decisions.
The leader further claimed that the Election Commission of Pakistan’s verdict in the PTI prohibited funding case had confirmed that Imran was “backed by people” whose interests were against the country’s.
They added that the statements Imran was making these days were just an attempt to “escape from the law”.
In its much-anticipated verdict this week, the electoral body had ruled that PTI had “wilfully” and “knowingly” received prohibited funding from a number of foreign donors.
In its order, the commission also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes”.
DAWN
“We demand that you tell us the names of those neutrals,” PML-N’s Malik Ahmed Khan said in a press conference in Islamabad.
Khan and Ghani’s statements come in response to claims made by Imran in an interview to Express News earlier this week. The ex-premier had claimed that it was the neutrals — a euphemism he uses to describe the military establishment — who suggested Raja’s name as the CEC.
He had said that according to the 18th Amendment, heads of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), ECP and caretaker governments were supposed to be decided amicably by all the political parties.
“At the time of CEC’s appointment, there was a deadlock [among the parties]. So, the neutrals approached us and said that the country needed to move forward.
“They suggested Sikandar Sultan’s name. I didn’t even know him [back then]. But people told us that he was PML-N’s man,” Imran had said, adding that when he told the neutral about this, they guaranteed that the CEC would stay neutral.
Malik said: “Show some spine and tell us who were the neutrals who gave you this guarantee.
“Did [Army chief] General Bajwa say this to you? And if yes, then please have some audacity […] have some courage […] then say it. If General Faiz Hameed said this, then please take his name and say it plainly,” he said.
“So tell us. Who gave you this guarantee that the CEC will stay neutral? You said it on television. Tell us.”
Malik further went on to ask Imran: “Where did the neutrals come in? If you, or any member of your party, has the courage, come forward and name them. Also, tell us who do you call ‘neutral’? Is it the army chief or the DG ISI or the institution?”
The PML-N leader alleged that it seemed as if the PTI chief uses the word “neutral” to demean the institution and reiterated that Imran should substantiate his comments in public.
Separately, talking to media persons in Karachi, PPP provincial minister Saeed Ghani put forward a similar question. He said that Imran himself appointed the election commissioner and then blamed the “neutrals” for it.
“Who from the neutrals said it? Tell us the name,” he asked. “It will be more fun when he says the name — just ask him.
“Neutrals aren’t just a thing. There must be some people who he [Imran] said passed instructions or pressurised or suggested the [CEC’s] name […] tell us their names. Who said this to you?”
Ghani then reiterated that Imran would not reveal the names of the “neutrals”, adding that Imran called others “boot polisher” but himself admitted that the “neutrals” influenced his government’s decisions.
The leader further claimed that the Election Commission of Pakistan’s verdict in the PTI prohibited funding case had confirmed that Imran was “backed by people” whose interests were against the country’s.
They added that the statements Imran was making these days were just an attempt to “escape from the law”.
In its much-anticipated verdict this week, the electoral body had ruled that PTI had “wilfully” and “knowingly” received prohibited funding from a number of foreign donors.
In its order, the commission also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes”.
DAWN
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FIA constitutes team to oversee PTI funding probe
ISLAMABAD: The Fed*eral Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday constituted a five-member team to supervise the inquiry teams of FIA’s respective zones probing into the matter pertaining to the Elec*tion Commission of Pakistan (ECP) order in Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) ‘prohibited’ funding case.
Headed by FIA director Mohammad Athar Waheed, the FIA monitoring team would be responsible for coordination with and guidance to the respective inquiry teams in each zone, according to a notification issued by FIA’s economic crime wing director.
The FIA team was notified just a few days after a three-member ECP bench in a unanimous verdict ruled that the PTI received prohibited funding in the case pending since 2014.
As per the FIA notification, the probe is being conducted under Section 6 of Political Parties Order, 2002. FIA’s additional director Khalid Anees, deputy director Khawaja Hammad, Chaudhary Ijaz Ahmed and assistant director Ijaz Ahmed Sheikh will be members of the team that has been tasked with supervising the ongoing enquiries into PTI’s funding case.
PTI staff plea against ‘harassment’
Also on Friday, the lower staff of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against an inquiry initiated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over the alleged collection of foreign funding.
The PTI’s financial board in 2011 authorised four employees of the party’s central secretariat —telephone operator (Tahir Iqbal), computer operator (Mohammad Nauman Afzal), accountant (Mohammad Arshad) and PTI’s office helper (Mohammad Rafiq) — were allowed to receive funds from within Pakistan and abroad in their personal accounts, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
In their petition, Iqbal, Arshad and Rafiq moved through their counsel Shah Khawar before acting chief justice of the IHC Justice Aamer Farooq, the PTI staff alleged that FIA inspector Rehana Kausar started harassing them after Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah at a press conference announced registration of case against the employees.
While terming it mala fide on part of the investigation agency, the counsel argued that notices were issued to his clients at midnight after the minister’s presser and requested the court to set aside the notices.
Justice Farooq, however, issued notice to the FIA and sought reply till August 10.
According to PTI’s founding member Akbar S. Babar, who was the complainant in the foreign funding case, a sum of Rs11.104 million was deposited in the employees’ accounts, which was beyond their known sources of income. In 2016 and 2017, Mr Babar had written to the authorities for initiating an inquiry into the matter but the previous PML-N government didn’t pay heed to it then.
As for the account details, the PTI’s telephone operator received Rs4.715 million in his account when his monthly income was Rs28,000. PTI’s accountant received Rs840,000 and Rs959,000 in two accounts he operated while he was earning Rs42,000 a month. The office helper, Rafiq, received a sum of Rs4.725m whereas his monthly income was Rs23,000. In another account, Rs2.379 million was deposited.
DAWN
ISLAMABAD: The Fed*eral Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday constituted a five-member team to supervise the inquiry teams of FIA’s respective zones probing into the matter pertaining to the Elec*tion Commission of Pakistan (ECP) order in Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) ‘prohibited’ funding case.
Headed by FIA director Mohammad Athar Waheed, the FIA monitoring team would be responsible for coordination with and guidance to the respective inquiry teams in each zone, according to a notification issued by FIA’s economic crime wing director.
The FIA team was notified just a few days after a three-member ECP bench in a unanimous verdict ruled that the PTI received prohibited funding in the case pending since 2014.
As per the FIA notification, the probe is being conducted under Section 6 of Political Parties Order, 2002. FIA’s additional director Khalid Anees, deputy director Khawaja Hammad, Chaudhary Ijaz Ahmed and assistant director Ijaz Ahmed Sheikh will be members of the team that has been tasked with supervising the ongoing enquiries into PTI’s funding case.
PTI staff plea against ‘harassment’
Also on Friday, the lower staff of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against an inquiry initiated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over the alleged collection of foreign funding.
The PTI’s financial board in 2011 authorised four employees of the party’s central secretariat —telephone operator (Tahir Iqbal), computer operator (Mohammad Nauman Afzal), accountant (Mohammad Arshad) and PTI’s office helper (Mohammad Rafiq) — were allowed to receive funds from within Pakistan and abroad in their personal accounts, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
In their petition, Iqbal, Arshad and Rafiq moved through their counsel Shah Khawar before acting chief justice of the IHC Justice Aamer Farooq, the PTI staff alleged that FIA inspector Rehana Kausar started harassing them after Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah at a press conference announced registration of case against the employees.
While terming it mala fide on part of the investigation agency, the counsel argued that notices were issued to his clients at midnight after the minister’s presser and requested the court to set aside the notices.
Justice Farooq, however, issued notice to the FIA and sought reply till August 10.
According to PTI’s founding member Akbar S. Babar, who was the complainant in the foreign funding case, a sum of Rs11.104 million was deposited in the employees’ accounts, which was beyond their known sources of income. In 2016 and 2017, Mr Babar had written to the authorities for initiating an inquiry into the matter but the previous PML-N government didn’t pay heed to it then.
As for the account details, the PTI’s telephone operator received Rs4.715 million in his account when his monthly income was Rs28,000. PTI’s accountant received Rs840,000 and Rs959,000 in two accounts he operated while he was earning Rs42,000 a month. The office helper, Rafiq, received a sum of Rs4.725m whereas his monthly income was Rs23,000. In another account, Rs2.379 million was deposited.
DAWN
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FIA starts probing ‘prohibited funds’ use by PTI
FIA launches formal countrywide investigation into utilisation of funds from prohibited sources by PTI
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday launched a formal countrywide investigation into the utilisation of funds from prohibited sources by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The FIA launched the investigation on a letter written by Akbar S Babar, requesting a probe against the PTI for receiving funds through accounts opened in the name of junior employees.
A five-member monitoring team was constituted in this regard to supervise inquiries across Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta. The team is headed by Muhammad Athar Waheed. The PTI employees told the FIA in their preliminary interviews that they were unaware of how accounts in their names were being used by the party.
Four employees, including Muhammad Rafiq, Tahir Iqbal and Muhammad Arshad, named in the ECP ruling in the Akbar Sher Babar vs the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) case were called in on Friday for preliminary interviews. The FIA will also issue notices to PTI’s Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed in Lahore and Asad Qaiser in Peshawar on August 6 (today) to appear by August 10.
In his statement to the FIA, Muhammad Arshad said he had no knowledge of who was sending the funding and from where. Tahir Iqbal told the FIA that the amount in the accounts was handed over in cash or through a cheque to PTI’s finance manager. Muhammad Rafiq told FIA that he did not know where the money was spent and for what purpose. “The PTI’s Finance Department used to take a blank cheque signed by me,” he said.
The employees being investigated include PTI chief Imran Khan’s personal secretary and PTI’s general manager finance. Akbar S. Babar formally approached the FIA to initiate a probe against the PTI on Wednesday. Babar told the FIA that the PTI’s financial board in 2011 illegally authorized four employees of the party’s central secretariat to collect donations in their personal accounts from within Pakistan and abroad. A sum of Rs11.104 million was deposited in the accounts of the PTI employees which was beyond their known sources of income, Babar said in his letter.
Babar wrote that the funds were received through the accounts of employees Tahir Iqbal, Muhammad Nauman Afzal, Muhammad Arshad and Muhammad Rafiq. Acting on this letter and the ECP ruling on this case, the FIA is probing the utilization of funds from 13 undeclared accounts and has issued notices to the account holders. Sources close to these developments say the FIA also wants to probe whether there are unknown accounts, besides looking into sources of funding in these accounts, how much funds were sent through them and whether funds were transferred in accordance with the laws of host countries.
Awais Yousafzai adds: The four employees of the PTI’s central secretariat have challenged the FIA notices in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Acting Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard their petition.
Counsel for the petitioners, Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Rafique, Noman Afzal and Tahir Iqbal, stated that an FIA inspector issued notices in haste at midnight after the interior minister’s press conference. The counsel requested the court to dismiss the notices and restrain the FIA from acting against the petitioners. Summoning the inspector on August 10, the IHC issued notices to the respondents.
The News PK
FIA launches formal countrywide investigation into utilisation of funds from prohibited sources by PTI
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday launched a formal countrywide investigation into the utilisation of funds from prohibited sources by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The FIA launched the investigation on a letter written by Akbar S Babar, requesting a probe against the PTI for receiving funds through accounts opened in the name of junior employees.
A five-member monitoring team was constituted in this regard to supervise inquiries across Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta. The team is headed by Muhammad Athar Waheed. The PTI employees told the FIA in their preliminary interviews that they were unaware of how accounts in their names were being used by the party.
Four employees, including Muhammad Rafiq, Tahir Iqbal and Muhammad Arshad, named in the ECP ruling in the Akbar Sher Babar vs the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) case were called in on Friday for preliminary interviews. The FIA will also issue notices to PTI’s Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed in Lahore and Asad Qaiser in Peshawar on August 6 (today) to appear by August 10.
In his statement to the FIA, Muhammad Arshad said he had no knowledge of who was sending the funding and from where. Tahir Iqbal told the FIA that the amount in the accounts was handed over in cash or through a cheque to PTI’s finance manager. Muhammad Rafiq told FIA that he did not know where the money was spent and for what purpose. “The PTI’s Finance Department used to take a blank cheque signed by me,” he said.
The employees being investigated include PTI chief Imran Khan’s personal secretary and PTI’s general manager finance. Akbar S. Babar formally approached the FIA to initiate a probe against the PTI on Wednesday. Babar told the FIA that the PTI’s financial board in 2011 illegally authorized four employees of the party’s central secretariat to collect donations in their personal accounts from within Pakistan and abroad. A sum of Rs11.104 million was deposited in the accounts of the PTI employees which was beyond their known sources of income, Babar said in his letter.
Babar wrote that the funds were received through the accounts of employees Tahir Iqbal, Muhammad Nauman Afzal, Muhammad Arshad and Muhammad Rafiq. Acting on this letter and the ECP ruling on this case, the FIA is probing the utilization of funds from 13 undeclared accounts and has issued notices to the account holders. Sources close to these developments say the FIA also wants to probe whether there are unknown accounts, besides looking into sources of funding in these accounts, how much funds were sent through them and whether funds were transferred in accordance with the laws of host countries.
Awais Yousafzai adds: The four employees of the PTI’s central secretariat have challenged the FIA notices in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Acting Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard their petition.
Counsel for the petitioners, Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Rafique, Noman Afzal and Tahir Iqbal, stated that an FIA inspector issued notices in haste at midnight after the interior minister’s press conference. The counsel requested the court to dismiss the notices and restrain the FIA from acting against the petitioners. Summoning the inspector on August 10, the IHC issued notices to the respondents.
The News PK
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Terming the prohibited funding case’s decision "wrong", former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Friday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) received the verdict from "somewhere else".
"We did not conceal any kind of funding [from the ECP]," Imran said during a meeting with senior journalists and anchorpersons at his Bani Gala in Islamabad.
The former premier said that his party did not indulge in anything unlawful. Founder of the Dubai-based Abraaj Group Arif Naqvi, he said, did not do any illegal funding, adding that the questions being asked after a law was changed in 2017.
"They bring Shaukat Khanum accounts to me... I am not aware of what is happening in each and every account. We have not hidden any accounts," he added.
Hitting out at the ECP, Imran said that it gave the verdict against the PTI eight times and later, the courts corrected them. "Fundraising is done in the same manner all over the world. If any money has come to the party which should not have come then the maximum that can be done is to confiscate that money," he added.
Admitting that appointing Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja was a "critical mistake", the ousted prime minister said that he was told that Raja was acceptable to both sides and he would not do any injustice.
The PTI chief further said that he has no fear of being disqualified. "In Toshakhana [case], everything is declared... we're not in any danger because of it. They will not be able to finish our party as public movements cannot be quashed like that."
He also questioned why only PTI's funding case's verdict has been announced, demanding to issue the verdicts of the PML-N and the PPP be announced soon. "Both of them should give an account of the funds they got in their accounts."'They tried to arrest me'Imran Khan said that during the long march, he was given false assurances regarding the [general] elections. "When the date of the long march approached, I was told to delay it and at the same time, they tried to arrest me," he added.
The former prime minister said that there was no dispute with the army and there was no disagreement over any appointment. He said that the new army chief should come from within the institution on merit.
Reiterating his stance over the snap polls in the country, he said that it was in the interest of Pakistan to hold early and immediate elections. "The solution to the country's problems lies in a strong government coming in and finding solutions to these problems," he further said.
Express Tribune
"We did not conceal any kind of funding [from the ECP]," Imran said during a meeting with senior journalists and anchorpersons at his Bani Gala in Islamabad.
The former premier said that his party did not indulge in anything unlawful. Founder of the Dubai-based Abraaj Group Arif Naqvi, he said, did not do any illegal funding, adding that the questions being asked after a law was changed in 2017.
"They bring Shaukat Khanum accounts to me... I am not aware of what is happening in each and every account. We have not hidden any accounts," he added.
Hitting out at the ECP, Imran said that it gave the verdict against the PTI eight times and later, the courts corrected them. "Fundraising is done in the same manner all over the world. If any money has come to the party which should not have come then the maximum that can be done is to confiscate that money," he added.
Admitting that appointing Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja was a "critical mistake", the ousted prime minister said that he was told that Raja was acceptable to both sides and he would not do any injustice.
The PTI chief further said that he has no fear of being disqualified. "In Toshakhana [case], everything is declared... we're not in any danger because of it. They will not be able to finish our party as public movements cannot be quashed like that."
He also questioned why only PTI's funding case's verdict has been announced, demanding to issue the verdicts of the PML-N and the PPP be announced soon. "Both of them should give an account of the funds they got in their accounts."'They tried to arrest me'Imran Khan said that during the long march, he was given false assurances regarding the [general] elections. "When the date of the long march approached, I was told to delay it and at the same time, they tried to arrest me," he added.
The former prime minister said that there was no dispute with the army and there was no disagreement over any appointment. He said that the new army chief should come from within the institution on merit.
Reiterating his stance over the snap polls in the country, he said that it was in the interest of Pakistan to hold early and immediate elections. "The solution to the country's problems lies in a strong government coming in and finding solutions to these problems," he further said.
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The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday summoned PTI leader Asad Qaisar for inquiry regarding in the prohibited funding case.
FIA Peshwar’s inquiry officer has called in the former speaker of the National Assembly to reach the agency’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa office on August 11.
As per the notice, Qaisar has been asked to appear before the inquiry team in personal capacity and respond to queries regarding his two bank accounts, which according to the Akbar S Babar case, were opened and operated by him.
TheNews
FIA Peshwar’s inquiry officer has called in the former speaker of the National Assembly to reach the agency’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa office on August 11.
As per the notice, Qaisar has been asked to appear before the inquiry team in personal capacity and respond to queries regarding his two bank accounts, which according to the Akbar S Babar case, were opened and operated by him.
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Still no news from ECP on Noora and Billo mafia funding investigation
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The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday formed a five-member special monitoring team, expanding the scope of inquiry into the prohibited funding case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to the entire country.
The probe kicked off after the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in the prohibited funding case with the FIA summoning five former ruling party leaders, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Provincial Minister Mahmoodur Rasheed, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, to appear before it this month.
A five-member special team under the leadership of Director Training Dr Muhammad Athar Waheed will be responsible for coordination with zonal inquiry teams in Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta and Faisalabad.
The team includes Additional Director Khalid Anees, Deputy Director Khawaja Hamad, Deputy Director Chaudhry Ejaz and Assistant Director Ejaz Ahmed Shaikh.
On Tuesday, the electoral body announced the long-awaited decision and ruled that the PTI did indeed receive illegal funding, while issuing a notice to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
The case had been filed by PTI founding but disgruntled member Akbar S Babar which had been pending since November 14, 2014.
The written order of the ECP stated that the political party received illegal funds from foreign countries, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and Australia.
Read More PTI plays funding verdict down, ruling coalition says Imran proven 'guilty'
The electoral watchdog declared that 13 'unknown' accounts had been found linked to the party and the submissions by PTI Chairman Imran Khan were “inaccurate and wrong”.
It said the former ruling party had received millions of dollars from 351 foreign companies and 34 nationals.
The eight-year delayed ruling had hit the PTI at a time when Imran was voicing concerns over the top election supervisory body's conduct.
However, in the wake of the ruling, the party downplayed the potential impact on its political fortunes, insisting its books were in record and in fact the ruling vindicated its own stance that the party was not "foreign-funded".
On Thursday, the government decided to send a declaration against the PTI to the Supreme Court following the ECP decision.
Addressing a news conference after a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said action against the PTI would be taken under the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002 and the Election Act 2017.
According to Marriyum, who cited the ECP verdict, the foreign individuals and companies involved in funding the PTI included Wootton Cricket Limited, Bristol Engineering Services, E planet Trustees, PTI USA LLC, PTI Canada Corporation, Dunpec Pty Ltd of Australia and an Indian businesswoman Romita Shetty.
The minister said the cabinet had decided that the FIA would be assigned the task of investigating the prohibited funding case.
The Economic Crime Wing of the FIA initiated an investigation into the PTI prohibited funding case.
The FIA zonal inquiry teams will get details regarding the assets of PTI. The inquiry will be conducted under PPO 2002.
According to a notification despatched to zonal offices, the monitoring team will also guide the inquiry teams.
Meanwhile, FIA Karachi also issued a notification for the formation of a five-member team under the leadership of Deputy Director Commercial Bank Circle Rabia Qureshi. The team includes Assistant Director Rauf Shaikh, Inspector Sabeen Ghori, Aftab Wattoo, Sub Inspector Rahat Khan.
The teams will obtain details of funding companies, bank accounts of individuals, financial matters. The details obtained from the Federal Board of Revenue and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan will be shared with the team established at the headquarters.
The FIA Peshawar summoned former speaker Qaiser and FIA Lahore Provincial Minister Rasheed on August 11. The FIA Karachi summoned Dr Seema Zia and Najeeb Haroon on August 12 and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail on August 15.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2369998/fia-casts-a-wide-net-in-pti-funding-case
The probe kicked off after the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in the prohibited funding case with the FIA summoning five former ruling party leaders, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Provincial Minister Mahmoodur Rasheed, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, to appear before it this month.
A five-member special team under the leadership of Director Training Dr Muhammad Athar Waheed will be responsible for coordination with zonal inquiry teams in Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta and Faisalabad.
The team includes Additional Director Khalid Anees, Deputy Director Khawaja Hamad, Deputy Director Chaudhry Ejaz and Assistant Director Ejaz Ahmed Shaikh.
On Tuesday, the electoral body announced the long-awaited decision and ruled that the PTI did indeed receive illegal funding, while issuing a notice to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
The case had been filed by PTI founding but disgruntled member Akbar S Babar which had been pending since November 14, 2014.
The written order of the ECP stated that the political party received illegal funds from foreign countries, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and Australia.
Read More PTI plays funding verdict down, ruling coalition says Imran proven 'guilty'
The electoral watchdog declared that 13 'unknown' accounts had been found linked to the party and the submissions by PTI Chairman Imran Khan were “inaccurate and wrong”.
It said the former ruling party had received millions of dollars from 351 foreign companies and 34 nationals.
The eight-year delayed ruling had hit the PTI at a time when Imran was voicing concerns over the top election supervisory body's conduct.
However, in the wake of the ruling, the party downplayed the potential impact on its political fortunes, insisting its books were in record and in fact the ruling vindicated its own stance that the party was not "foreign-funded".
On Thursday, the government decided to send a declaration against the PTI to the Supreme Court following the ECP decision.
Addressing a news conference after a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said action against the PTI would be taken under the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002 and the Election Act 2017.
According to Marriyum, who cited the ECP verdict, the foreign individuals and companies involved in funding the PTI included Wootton Cricket Limited, Bristol Engineering Services, E planet Trustees, PTI USA LLC, PTI Canada Corporation, Dunpec Pty Ltd of Australia and an Indian businesswoman Romita Shetty.
The minister said the cabinet had decided that the FIA would be assigned the task of investigating the prohibited funding case.
The Economic Crime Wing of the FIA initiated an investigation into the PTI prohibited funding case.
The FIA zonal inquiry teams will get details regarding the assets of PTI. The inquiry will be conducted under PPO 2002.
According to a notification despatched to zonal offices, the monitoring team will also guide the inquiry teams.
Meanwhile, FIA Karachi also issued a notification for the formation of a five-member team under the leadership of Deputy Director Commercial Bank Circle Rabia Qureshi. The team includes Assistant Director Rauf Shaikh, Inspector Sabeen Ghori, Aftab Wattoo, Sub Inspector Rahat Khan.
The teams will obtain details of funding companies, bank accounts of individuals, financial matters. The details obtained from the Federal Board of Revenue and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan will be shared with the team established at the headquarters.
The FIA Peshawar summoned former speaker Qaiser and FIA Lahore Provincial Minister Rasheed on August 11. The FIA Karachi summoned Dr Seema Zia and Najeeb Haroon on August 12 and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail on August 15.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2369998/fia-casts-a-wide-net-in-pti-funding-case
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PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday questioned the summons party leaders received from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), saying they did not hold public office in 2011-12 — the period in which the party purportedly received prohibited funding.
“I do not understand in what capacity FIA is issuing notices to our leaders. These people were not public officeholders in 2011-12,” Chaudhry said at a news conference in Islamabad. “We are, however, cooperating with the FIA.”
On Friday, the FIA constituted a five-member team to supervise inquiry teams of the agency’s respe*ctive zones probing into the prohibited funding case. Subsequently, several prominent PTI leaders — Imran Ismail, Seema Zia, Mahmoodur Rasheed and Asad Qaiser were summoned by the agency. The probe comes after an ECP verdict that found the PTI had indeed received prohibited funding.
“I do not understand in what capacity FIA is issuing notices to our leaders. These people were not public officeholders in 2011-12,” Chaudhry said at a news conference in Islamabad. “We are, however, cooperating with the FIA.”
On Friday, the FIA constituted a five-member team to supervise inquiry teams of the agency’s respe*ctive zones probing into the prohibited funding case. Subsequently, several prominent PTI leaders — Imran Ismail, Seema Zia, Mahmoodur Rasheed and Asad Qaiser were summoned by the agency. The probe comes after an ECP verdict that found the PTI had indeed received prohibited funding.
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The Election Commission of Pakistan’s verdict in the prohibited funding case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was challenged in the Islamabad High Court by the party on Wednesday.
In its plea, filed by the PTI's additional secretary general Omar Ayyub, the party has requested the IHC to declare the ECP’s decision, delivered on August 2, illegal.
Moreover, the PTI has called for the decision to be annulled along with the show cause notice sent to the party for not declaring 13 'unknown' accounts that were found linked to it.
The application was filed through former Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan, lawyer Shah Khawar and Faisal Fareed.
'PTI pocketed millions illegally'
Last week, the ECP had announced its ruling in the long-awaited, cliffhanger case of the PTI's prohibited funding, and ruled that the party did, indeed, receive illegal funding. It also issued a notice to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja had announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar, which had been pending since November 14, 2014.
In its written order, the ECP had said the political party received millions of dollars in illegal funds from foreign countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Australia.
Read Sword of Damocles falls on Imran’s PTI
"The office is also directed to initiate any other action under the law, in light of this order of the Commission," said the 68-page judgement.
The electoral watchdog also declared that 13 'unknown' accounts have been found linked to the party and the submissions by PTI chief Imran Khan were 'inaccurate and wrong'.
'All accounts legal'
Earlier, PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry offered an explanation for the 16 party accounts that the electoral watchdog’s verdict termed as illegal and undeclared.
In a press conference, Chaudhry said that “subsidiary accounts were opened under party leaders’ names” ahead of elections and were therefore “declared”.
“The accounting formula – that accountants follow, is that they don’t do double counting,” he said, claiming that the 16 accounts were, in fact, subsidiary and had they been included then, “it would double the count”.
“The amount that comes into the main account is declared,” he explained, “accountants don’t count the amount in subsidiary accounts,” he claimed.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2370357/pti-approcahes-ihc-against-ecps-prohibited-funding-case-verdict
In its plea, filed by the PTI's additional secretary general Omar Ayyub, the party has requested the IHC to declare the ECP’s decision, delivered on August 2, illegal.
Moreover, the PTI has called for the decision to be annulled along with the show cause notice sent to the party for not declaring 13 'unknown' accounts that were found linked to it.
The application was filed through former Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan, lawyer Shah Khawar and Faisal Fareed.
'PTI pocketed millions illegally'
Last week, the ECP had announced its ruling in the long-awaited, cliffhanger case of the PTI's prohibited funding, and ruled that the party did, indeed, receive illegal funding. It also issued a notice to the party asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja had announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar, which had been pending since November 14, 2014.
In its written order, the ECP had said the political party received millions of dollars in illegal funds from foreign countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Australia.
Read Sword of Damocles falls on Imran’s PTI
"The office is also directed to initiate any other action under the law, in light of this order of the Commission," said the 68-page judgement.
The electoral watchdog also declared that 13 'unknown' accounts have been found linked to the party and the submissions by PTI chief Imran Khan were 'inaccurate and wrong'.
'All accounts legal'
Earlier, PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry offered an explanation for the 16 party accounts that the electoral watchdog’s verdict termed as illegal and undeclared.
In a press conference, Chaudhry said that “subsidiary accounts were opened under party leaders’ names” ahead of elections and were therefore “declared”.
“The accounting formula – that accountants follow, is that they don’t do double counting,” he said, claiming that the 16 accounts were, in fact, subsidiary and had they been included then, “it would double the count”.
“The amount that comes into the main account is declared,” he explained, “accountants don’t count the amount in subsidiary accounts,” he claimed.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2370357/pti-approcahes-ihc-against-ecps-prohibited-funding-case-verdict
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The Federal Investigation Agency’s probe into PTI’s prohibited funding case is in full swing as most of the banks have provided relevant data to the agency. According to FIA officials, the agency will soon receive the remaining data, adding that the agency has a mandate to probe into benami accounts and financial embezzlement.
They added that former governor Sindh Imran Ismail could not receive the notice for appearing before the inquiry committee as the occupants of the place, where the notice was sent, claimed that the address did not belong to Imran Ismail.
Meanwhile, the FIA has also received accounts details of former speaker Asad Qaiser from two private banks in Peshawar. The sources said that as many as Rs20 million were deposited into one of the accounts of Qaiser while Rs0.8million were deposited in the other account. Both of the accounts were opened in 2008-2009.
FIA has served on a notice to Asad Qaiser to appear before the inquiry committee headed by Deputy Director Aftab Butt on Thursday (today); however, he has decided to challenge the FIA notice. The Election Commission of Pakistan, meanwhile, summoned former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on August 23 to answer the show-cause notice in the prohibited funding case, local media reported.
Meanwhile, the PTI challenged on Wednesday the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking annulment of the order in the prohibited funding case.
In his petition filed with the IHC, PTI Additional Secretary-General Omar Ayub asked the court to not only nullify the August 2 ruling, but also revoke the ECP’s show-cause notice sent to PTI Chairperson Imran Khan.
The petitioner said he was “grossly aggrieved” by the fact-finding report — which revealed that the PTI had obtained funds from foreign sources — and demanded that it be declared “perverse, incorrect and in excess of authority and jurisdiction”.
They added that former governor Sindh Imran Ismail could not receive the notice for appearing before the inquiry committee as the occupants of the place, where the notice was sent, claimed that the address did not belong to Imran Ismail.
Meanwhile, the FIA has also received accounts details of former speaker Asad Qaiser from two private banks in Peshawar. The sources said that as many as Rs20 million were deposited into one of the accounts of Qaiser while Rs0.8million were deposited in the other account. Both of the accounts were opened in 2008-2009.
FIA has served on a notice to Asad Qaiser to appear before the inquiry committee headed by Deputy Director Aftab Butt on Thursday (today); however, he has decided to challenge the FIA notice. The Election Commission of Pakistan, meanwhile, summoned former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on August 23 to answer the show-cause notice in the prohibited funding case, local media reported.
Meanwhile, the PTI challenged on Wednesday the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking annulment of the order in the prohibited funding case.
In his petition filed with the IHC, PTI Additional Secretary-General Omar Ayub asked the court to not only nullify the August 2 ruling, but also revoke the ECP’s show-cause notice sent to PTI Chairperson Imran Khan.
The petitioner said he was “grossly aggrieved” by the fact-finding report — which revealed that the PTI had obtained funds from foreign sources — and demanded that it be declared “perverse, incorrect and in excess of authority and jurisdiction”.
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The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday summoned former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Khan Suri among four other PTI leaders to appear in person before the agency on Thursday in a case pertaining to the Election Commission of Pak**istan (ECP) order in prohibited funding case.
In a summon issued to the PTI leaders, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the FIA's Commercial Banking Circle sought the record of funds transferred to PTI Balochistan accounts between 2011 and 2013.
The financial watchdog pointed out that Rs5.3 million were withdrawn from the PTI accounts in the aforementioned three years out of total deposited Rs5.5m in the same period.
"The bank account where the money was transferred is registered in the name of Qasim Khan Suri and three other PTI leaders," the agency said.
Responding to the FIA summon, PTI Balochistan spokesperson Asif Tareen quoted Suri as saying that he had received the FIA notice on Wednesday night, wherein the agency sought details of funds transferred to party's account in Balochistan.
"None of our leaders will appear before the FIA today as the Islamabad High Court has already declared such notices unconstitutional," Suri claimed.
He added the money was deposited to official account of the PTI from 2011 to 2013 and the funds were used for party affairs.
"The funds were not sent to my personal account," he clarified.
The FIA had on Aug 5 constituted a five-member team to supervise inquiry teams of the agency’s respe*ctive zones probing into the prohibited funding case. Hea*ded by its Director Muh*a*m*mad Athar Waheed, the monitoring team would be responsible for coordination with and guiding the respective inquiry teams in each zone.
The team was notified just a few days after a three-member ECP bench in a unanimous verdict ruled that the PTI received prohibited funding from 351 foreign companies and 34 foreign nationals. As per the notification, the probe is being conducted under Section 6 of the Political Parties Order 2002.
In Karachi, the agency had summoned former Sindh governor Imran Ismail and MPA Dr Seema Zia. Sources said the FIA has also sought details from two private banks where the party was operating four accounts, which came under the radar after the ECP verdict. All four accounts, they had said, were opened and operated in Karachi.
DAWN
In a summon issued to the PTI leaders, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the FIA's Commercial Banking Circle sought the record of funds transferred to PTI Balochistan accounts between 2011 and 2013.
The financial watchdog pointed out that Rs5.3 million were withdrawn from the PTI accounts in the aforementioned three years out of total deposited Rs5.5m in the same period.
"The bank account where the money was transferred is registered in the name of Qasim Khan Suri and three other PTI leaders," the agency said.
Responding to the FIA summon, PTI Balochistan spokesperson Asif Tareen quoted Suri as saying that he had received the FIA notice on Wednesday night, wherein the agency sought details of funds transferred to party's account in Balochistan.
"None of our leaders will appear before the FIA today as the Islamabad High Court has already declared such notices unconstitutional," Suri claimed.
He added the money was deposited to official account of the PTI from 2011 to 2013 and the funds were used for party affairs.
"The funds were not sent to my personal account," he clarified.
The FIA had on Aug 5 constituted a five-member team to supervise inquiry teams of the agency’s respe*ctive zones probing into the prohibited funding case. Hea*ded by its Director Muh*a*m*mad Athar Waheed, the monitoring team would be responsible for coordination with and guiding the respective inquiry teams in each zone.
The team was notified just a few days after a three-member ECP bench in a unanimous verdict ruled that the PTI received prohibited funding from 351 foreign companies and 34 foreign nationals. As per the notification, the probe is being conducted under Section 6 of the Political Parties Order 2002.
In Karachi, the agency had summoned former Sindh governor Imran Ismail and MPA Dr Seema Zia. Sources said the FIA has also sought details from two private banks where the party was operating four accounts, which came under the radar after the ECP verdict. All four accounts, they had said, were opened and operated in Karachi.
DAWN
Bewal Express
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Declared illegal by IHC.
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The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday stopped the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from investigating former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser in the prohibited funding case, ARY News reported.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had summoned the PTI leader for questioning him today, but he refused to appear before the body as he had challenged their decision to summon him a day earlier.
In a short order issued after today’s hearing, the court prohibited FIA from investigating the ex-NA speaker till the next hearing.
The court, in the order, asked the FIA whether the federal government asked it to probe the PTI leaders. It also asked the FIA whether the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued any orders for inquiry against PTI.
The high court also asked FIA whether probing under the Political Parties Order 2022 comes under the ambit of the body.
Earlier, PTI has challenged Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in prohibited funding case in the Islamabad High Court, reported ARY News.
Additional Secretary General of PTI Omar Ayub challenged the verdict in the IHC and pleaded with the court to strike down ECP’s verdict in PTI prohibited funding case.
ECP verdict
The ECP bench in its reserved verdict said prohibited funding against PTI had been proven.
ECP, in its unanimous verdict, ruled that the party received funds from business tycoon Arif Naqvi and from 34 foreign nationals.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi announced the reserved verdict
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had summoned the PTI leader for questioning him today, but he refused to appear before the body as he had challenged their decision to summon him a day earlier.
In a short order issued after today’s hearing, the court prohibited FIA from investigating the ex-NA speaker till the next hearing.
The court, in the order, asked the FIA whether the federal government asked it to probe the PTI leaders. It also asked the FIA whether the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued any orders for inquiry against PTI.
The high court also asked FIA whether probing under the Political Parties Order 2022 comes under the ambit of the body.
Earlier, PTI has challenged Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in prohibited funding case in the Islamabad High Court, reported ARY News.
Additional Secretary General of PTI Omar Ayub challenged the verdict in the IHC and pleaded with the court to strike down ECP’s verdict in PTI prohibited funding case.
ECP verdict
The ECP bench in its reserved verdict said prohibited funding against PTI had been proven.
ECP, in its unanimous verdict, ruled that the party received funds from business tycoon Arif Naqvi and from 34 foreign nationals.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi announced the reserved verdict
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Former deputy speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, former governor Balochistan Syed Zahoor Agha and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders failed to appear before the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) inquiry team on the prohibited funding case on Thursday morning.
The assistant director FIA Commercial Banking Circle (CBC) had summoned the PTI leaders in Quetta.
"I came to know about the summon notice late night when I was in Islamabad," Suri told The Express Tribune. He said, "I am not frightened of any summoning and ready to face any inquiry".
Nonetheless, Suri explained that the PTI's Balochistan account had received Rs5.3 million from 2011 to 2013 for holding a public meeting in Quetta and payment of salaries to office employees.
The PTI's Balochistan chapter had received this amount from the party's Islamabad chapter, he clarified.
On August 5, the FIA announced the initiation of an investigation in the prohibited funding case and said that five different inquiry teams have been formed by the FIA against the PTI. Various inquiry teams have been formed that are expected to work in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Islamabad and Quetta.
On August 10, the PTI challenged the ECP's verdict in the IHC.
The FIA has also sent a notice to the former speaker of the National Assembly and PTI leader Asad Qaiser, stating that as per the verdict on Akbar S Babar’s case, Qaiser has two bank accounts and he is associated with the functioning of those two accounts. Therefore, he has been asked to appear before the inquiry team to answer questions regarding the details of the bank accounts.
The FIA notices came after the ECP announced its much-awaited verdict in the funding case of the former ruling party. A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja had announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar which had been pending since November 14, 2014.
Earlier today, the IHC disposed of a petition filed by the PTI against the FIA’s notices in the ongoing investigation. As the PTI could not get relief, the FIA is expected to continue its action against the party's finance wing.
Meanwhile, Asad Qaiser has also challenged the notice in the PTI funding case in the Peshawar High Court (PHC).
Asad Qaiser had filed a writ petition in court through his lawyer, Barrister Gohar Ali, to avoid appearing before the federal agency and possible arrest in the high-profile case.
The assistant director FIA Commercial Banking Circle (CBC) had summoned the PTI leaders in Quetta.
"I came to know about the summon notice late night when I was in Islamabad," Suri told The Express Tribune. He said, "I am not frightened of any summoning and ready to face any inquiry".
Nonetheless, Suri explained that the PTI's Balochistan account had received Rs5.3 million from 2011 to 2013 for holding a public meeting in Quetta and payment of salaries to office employees.
The PTI's Balochistan chapter had received this amount from the party's Islamabad chapter, he clarified.
On August 5, the FIA announced the initiation of an investigation in the prohibited funding case and said that five different inquiry teams have been formed by the FIA against the PTI. Various inquiry teams have been formed that are expected to work in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Islamabad and Quetta.
On August 10, the PTI challenged the ECP's verdict in the IHC.
The FIA has also sent a notice to the former speaker of the National Assembly and PTI leader Asad Qaiser, stating that as per the verdict on Akbar S Babar’s case, Qaiser has two bank accounts and he is associated with the functioning of those two accounts. Therefore, he has been asked to appear before the inquiry team to answer questions regarding the details of the bank accounts.
The FIA notices came after the ECP announced its much-awaited verdict in the funding case of the former ruling party. A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja had announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar which had been pending since November 14, 2014.
Earlier today, the IHC disposed of a petition filed by the PTI against the FIA’s notices in the ongoing investigation. As the PTI could not get relief, the FIA is expected to continue its action against the party's finance wing.
Meanwhile, Asad Qaiser has also challenged the notice in the PTI funding case in the Peshawar High Court (PHC).
Asad Qaiser had filed a writ petition in court through his lawyer, Barrister Gohar Ali, to avoid appearing before the federal agency and possible arrest in the high-profile case.
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The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has sought records from PTI Chairman Imran Khan regarding the total funds provided to the party by national and international companies and business firms.
Following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) judgment that ruled PTI received funding from prohibited sources, the FIA launched a country-wide inquiry into the matter.
In a letter to the PTI chairman, the FIA asked Imran Khan to provide the record of the membership fee from the establishment of the PTI till now.
The investigation agency also sought annual statements of PTI’s bank accounts since 1996, the record of its registered and unregistered organizations and trusts from the party’s chief.
Imran Khan is also asked to provide the record of PTI's national and international donors. The FIA also directed the PTI chairman to provide details of funds received from various companies in different countries separately.
The agency has also sought the list of the party’s office-bearers, their CNICs and the names of those who were allowed to operate the party’s bank accounts. The investigation agency has also directed Imran Khan to provide details of the board that is looking after the financial affairs of the party.
The party’s chairman and the general secretary were told to submit the details to the FIA within the next 15 days.
FIA summons PTI leaders in prohibited funding case
Earlier, the FIA summoned former National Assembly speaker and senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser, ex-Sindh governor Imran Ismail and other leaders in reference to the ongoing inquiry on the prohibited funding case.
The notice sent to the former speaker stated that as per the verdict on Akbar S Babar’s case, Qaiser has two bank accounts and he is associated with the functioning of those two accounts; therefore he has been asked to appear before the inquiry team to answer questions regarding the details of the bank account.
A five-member FIA monitoring team has been constituted to supervise inquiries across Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta. The team is headed by Muhammad Athar Waheed.
The FIA launched the investigation on a letter written by Babar, requesting a probe against the PTI for receiving funds through accounts opened in the name of junior employees.
Akbar S Babar formally approached the FIA to initiate a probe against the PTI after the ECP verdict.
Babar told the FIA that the PTI’s financial board in 2011 illegally authorised four employees of the party’s central secretariat to collect donations in their personal accounts from within Pakistan and abroad.
A sum of Rs11.104 million was deposited in the accounts of the PTI employees which was beyond their known sources of income, Babar said in his letter.
TheNews
Following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) judgment that ruled PTI received funding from prohibited sources, the FIA launched a country-wide inquiry into the matter.
In a letter to the PTI chairman, the FIA asked Imran Khan to provide the record of the membership fee from the establishment of the PTI till now.
The investigation agency also sought annual statements of PTI’s bank accounts since 1996, the record of its registered and unregistered organizations and trusts from the party’s chief.
Imran Khan is also asked to provide the record of PTI's national and international donors. The FIA also directed the PTI chairman to provide details of funds received from various companies in different countries separately.
The agency has also sought the list of the party’s office-bearers, their CNICs and the names of those who were allowed to operate the party’s bank accounts. The investigation agency has also directed Imran Khan to provide details of the board that is looking after the financial affairs of the party.
The party’s chairman and the general secretary were told to submit the details to the FIA within the next 15 days.
FIA summons PTI leaders in prohibited funding case
Earlier, the FIA summoned former National Assembly speaker and senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser, ex-Sindh governor Imran Ismail and other leaders in reference to the ongoing inquiry on the prohibited funding case.
The notice sent to the former speaker stated that as per the verdict on Akbar S Babar’s case, Qaiser has two bank accounts and he is associated with the functioning of those two accounts; therefore he has been asked to appear before the inquiry team to answer questions regarding the details of the bank account.
A five-member FIA monitoring team has been constituted to supervise inquiries across Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta. The team is headed by Muhammad Athar Waheed.
The FIA launched the investigation on a letter written by Babar, requesting a probe against the PTI for receiving funds through accounts opened in the name of junior employees.
Akbar S Babar formally approached the FIA to initiate a probe against the PTI after the ECP verdict.
Babar told the FIA that the PTI’s financial board in 2011 illegally authorised four employees of the party’s central secretariat to collect donations in their personal accounts from within Pakistan and abroad.
A sum of Rs11.104 million was deposited in the accounts of the PTI employees which was beyond their known sources of income, Babar said in his letter.
TheNews
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When are we going to see the Noora/PPP funding investigation results. The SC mandated that it be at the same time but this order was totally ignored.
daytrader
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IHC FORMS LARGER BENCH TO HEAR PTI PROHIBITED FUNDING CASE
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has decided to constitute a larger bench to hear Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition, challenging Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in the prohibited funding case, ARY News reported on Tuesday.
Names of the judges who will constitute the bench are yet to be finalised. Justice Umar Farooq took up the petition filed by the PTI challenging the ECP’s verdict in prohibited funding case.
During the hearing, PTI counsel Anwar Mansoor argued that the accounts’ information, which were provided, was not included in the electoral watchdog’s verdict. “We had told ECP that some accounts’ information was not necessary due to some reasons,” he added.
The PTI counsel noted that some funds were transferred to provincial leaders from central accounts, urging the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to stop ECP from taking any action against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Meanwhile, Justice Umar Farooq announced to constitute a larger bench, saying that a stay order will also be issued by the larger bench. The bench would take up the petition in PTI prohibited funding case on August 18.
ECP verdict
The ECP bench in its reserved verdict said prohibited funding against PTI had been proven.
ECP, in its unanimous verdict, ruled that the party received funds from business tycoon Arif Naqvi and from 34 foreign nationals.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi announced the reserved verdict.
ARY News
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has decided to constitute a larger bench to hear Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition, challenging Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in the prohibited funding case, ARY News reported on Tuesday.
Names of the judges who will constitute the bench are yet to be finalised. Justice Umar Farooq took up the petition filed by the PTI challenging the ECP’s verdict in prohibited funding case.
During the hearing, PTI counsel Anwar Mansoor argued that the accounts’ information, which were provided, was not included in the electoral watchdog’s verdict. “We had told ECP that some accounts’ information was not necessary due to some reasons,” he added.
The PTI counsel noted that some funds were transferred to provincial leaders from central accounts, urging the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to stop ECP from taking any action against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Meanwhile, Justice Umar Farooq announced to constitute a larger bench, saying that a stay order will also be issued by the larger bench. The bench would take up the petition in PTI prohibited funding case on August 18.
ECP verdict
The ECP bench in its reserved verdict said prohibited funding against PTI had been proven.
ECP, in its unanimous verdict, ruled that the party received funds from business tycoon Arif Naqvi and from 34 foreign nationals.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi announced the reserved verdict.
ARY News
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former premier Imran Khan on Wednesday said he was not obligated to provide any information to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the prohibited funding case.
In a written response to the FIA's notice, the former prime minister refused to provide his personal banking details and said he is neither answerable nor obligated to provide information.
The reply to the notice was sent by former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan on behalf of the party and its chairman.
Imran also warned the investigative agency of legal action if it did not withdraw the notice within two days.
Terming the notice malicious intent on part of the agency, Imran stated in his reply that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had issued a report and not a decision in the prohibited funding case.
“The election commission cannot issue orders to FIA or any other body based on this report.”
“The FIA does not have the authority to take action under the Political Parties Order 2002," said the former premier and added that the notice also contravenes the FIA Act.
“The Supreme Court has declared the Election Commission as an administrative body in several decisions. The ECP is neither a court nor a tribunal,” he maintained.
Earlier this month, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) formed a five-member special monitoring team, expanding the scope of inquiry into the prohibited funding case against the former ruling party to the entire country.
The PTI had moved the court against the FIA for taking action following the ECP's verdict in the prohibited funding case. However, the IHC had disposed of the petition.
On August 16, the IHC decided to form a larger bench on the decision of the ECP's prohibited funding case against the PTI.
Express Tribune
In a written response to the FIA's notice, the former prime minister refused to provide his personal banking details and said he is neither answerable nor obligated to provide information.
The reply to the notice was sent by former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan on behalf of the party and its chairman.
Imran also warned the investigative agency of legal action if it did not withdraw the notice within two days.
Terming the notice malicious intent on part of the agency, Imran stated in his reply that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had issued a report and not a decision in the prohibited funding case.
“The election commission cannot issue orders to FIA or any other body based on this report.”
“The FIA does not have the authority to take action under the Political Parties Order 2002," said the former premier and added that the notice also contravenes the FIA Act.
“The Supreme Court has declared the Election Commission as an administrative body in several decisions. The ECP is neither a court nor a tribunal,” he maintained.
Earlier this month, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) formed a five-member special monitoring team, expanding the scope of inquiry into the prohibited funding case against the former ruling party to the entire country.
The PTI had moved the court against the FIA for taking action following the ECP's verdict in the prohibited funding case. However, the IHC had disposed of the petition.
On August 16, the IHC decided to form a larger bench on the decision of the ECP's prohibited funding case against the PTI.
Express Tribune
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They are just so desperate to find something, anything. Afterall the terrible, illegal decision last week, they realised they have nothing. This pathetic circus of clowns can't win any election so they are now looking for any reason to disqualify IK.
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A larger bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plea today against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in the prohibited funding case, ARY News reported on Thursday.
According to details, the larger bench – which will be headed by IHC Acting Chief Justice Aamir Farooq – includes Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Babar Sattar.
The larger bench will hear the PTI’s petition against the ECP verdict at 2 pm.
According to details, the larger bench – which will be headed by IHC Acting Chief Justice Aamir Farooq – includes Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Babar Sattar.
The larger bench will hear the PTI’s petition against the ECP verdict at 2 pm.
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The Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday issued notices to PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other senior party leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar for using “intemperate and contemptuous remarks” against the electoral watchdog in recent speeches.
The ECP issued two notices to Imran and one each to Chaudhry and Umar and directed them to appear in person or through counsel before the commission office in Islamabad on Aug 30.
The watchdog accused Imran of levelling baseless allegations at the ECP and its chief in his addresses on July 18, 21, 27 and Aug 4 and 10.
The ECP issued two notices to Imran and one each to Chaudhry and Umar and directed them to appear in person or through counsel before the commission office in Islamabad on Aug 30.
The watchdog accused Imran of levelling baseless allegations at the ECP and its chief in his addresses on July 18, 21, 27 and Aug 4 and 10.
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The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued contempt notices to the top PTI leadership, including party chief Imran Khan, for levelling allegations at the electoral body and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.
The electoral body directed the PTI chairman along with Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar to appear before it in person or submit their response through their lawyers on August 31.
The ECP spokesperson said in a statement that notices were issued to the PTI chief for using “insulting and unparliamentary remarks” against the electoral body in various speeches.
The development is the latest sign that Imran's legal controversies with the top electoral supervisory body — that also clouded his office during his term as a prime minister — are entering a protracted chapter, especially as references eyeing his disqualification pile up on the ECP's desk.
With Imran weighing a comeback bid for the prime minister's office, Imran is wanted in a number hearings over pleas that present potentially most acute legal threat of all.
In its notice on Friday, the ECP explained that the notices were issued after reviewing the speeches delivered by the PTI leaders which were provided by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) at the electoral body’s request.
The ECP has sought clarification from the PTI leaders on allegations hurled against it.
The notices said Imran Khan used “insulting and indecent language” against the CEC in his rallies on July 12, 18, 21 & 27, and August 4 & 8. "He instigated the public against the CEC by using contemptuous language which was an attempt to prejudice the process of forthcoming election which constitute a clear contempt of the commission,” the notices read.
Copies of the statement were also attached with the notices.
In one of the addresses referred to by the ECP in its notice, Imran Khan accused the top electoral supervisory body of employing everything at its disposal to defeat the PTI in the recent Punjab by-polls.
"I want to first thank our PTI workers and voters of Punjab for defeating not just PML-N candidates but the entire state machinery, especially harassment by police and a totally biased ECP," Imran was quoted as alleging in the notice.
Similarly, in its notice to Fawad Chaudhry, the ECP also great exception to the PTI leader's press conference on May 11 wherein he had asked the CEC to join the PML-N instead of running the affairs of an institution as important as election commission.
The former prime minister has time and again accused the ECP and its chief of being biased and demanded that CEC Raja steps down.
Imran also accused the ECP chief of siding with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz against the PTI.
Last month, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf decided to file a ‘judicial reference’ against CEC Raja and other members of the Election Commission of Pakistan for allegedly violating the code of conduct.
Former premier Imran had formally directed his legal team to initiate the process of filing the reference against the CEC and ECP members for meeting a delegation of the ruling alliance and discussing the prohibited funding case against PTI with them.
The electoral body directed the PTI chairman along with Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar to appear before it in person or submit their response through their lawyers on August 31.
The ECP spokesperson said in a statement that notices were issued to the PTI chief for using “insulting and unparliamentary remarks” against the electoral body in various speeches.
The development is the latest sign that Imran's legal controversies with the top electoral supervisory body — that also clouded his office during his term as a prime minister — are entering a protracted chapter, especially as references eyeing his disqualification pile up on the ECP's desk.
With Imran weighing a comeback bid for the prime minister's office, Imran is wanted in a number hearings over pleas that present potentially most acute legal threat of all.
In its notice on Friday, the ECP explained that the notices were issued after reviewing the speeches delivered by the PTI leaders which were provided by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) at the electoral body’s request.
The ECP has sought clarification from the PTI leaders on allegations hurled against it.
The notices said Imran Khan used “insulting and indecent language” against the CEC in his rallies on July 12, 18, 21 & 27, and August 4 & 8. "He instigated the public against the CEC by using contemptuous language which was an attempt to prejudice the process of forthcoming election which constitute a clear contempt of the commission,” the notices read.
Copies of the statement were also attached with the notices.
In one of the addresses referred to by the ECP in its notice, Imran Khan accused the top electoral supervisory body of employing everything at its disposal to defeat the PTI in the recent Punjab by-polls.
"I want to first thank our PTI workers and voters of Punjab for defeating not just PML-N candidates but the entire state machinery, especially harassment by police and a totally biased ECP," Imran was quoted as alleging in the notice.
Similarly, in its notice to Fawad Chaudhry, the ECP also great exception to the PTI leader's press conference on May 11 wherein he had asked the CEC to join the PML-N instead of running the affairs of an institution as important as election commission.
The former prime minister has time and again accused the ECP and its chief of being biased and demanded that CEC Raja steps down.
Imran also accused the ECP chief of siding with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz against the PTI.
Last month, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf decided to file a ‘judicial reference’ against CEC Raja and other members of the Election Commission of Pakistan for allegedly violating the code of conduct.
Former premier Imran had formally directed his legal team to initiate the process of filing the reference against the CEC and ECP members for meeting a delegation of the ruling alliance and discussing the prohibited funding case against PTI with them.
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FIA justifies probe into PTI prohibited funding case
Says investigation into illegalities being conducted within mandate
ISLAMABAD:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has justified its inquiry into the PTI prohibited funding case in the wake of the August 2 ECP pronouncement that the party had received funds from prohibited sources, saying it is only probing the alleged bank irregularities within its mandate.
In a reply submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which is hearing the PTI’s petition against the inquiry, the FIA explained that it was strictly inquiring into the alleged illegalities within its mandate vested under laws concerning the businesses of banks, and not under laws that stipulated regulations for party funding.
“Neither the Political Parties Order (PPO), 2002 is a schedule law of FIA Act, 1974 nor is FIA inquiring under the said order,” the agency stated, adding that its probe into the matter was empowered by Section 3 read with its preamble and scheduled laws.
It is noteworthy that Article 6 of the PPO, 2002, elaborates on who can be a donor/contributor to a political party, what is prohibited funding, and what happens to prohibited funding. In short, no foreign national, government or agency can fund a political party in Pakistan. If prohibited funding is proven as per PPO Article 6(4), the said funds are to be confiscated by the state.
The FIA, in its defence, said the law was not the basis of its action.
It stated that after careful examination of the ECP’s order, the concerned zonal directorates with territorial jurisdiction in the subject matter initiated several inquiries regarding "irregularities and illegalities".
The FIA cited Para 39 and other relevant observations made in the order, prima facie, regarding the operation of different bank accounts concerning the “business of a bank”.
The reply said that the inquiry officer of the FIA Commercial Banking Circle, Islamabad, on August 10 served notices on the petitioner in order to thrash out and determine whether any business of the bank had been cheated or not by the petitioner by operating bank accounts.
However, it maintained that the inquiry was still at its initial stage, contending that invoking the constitutional jurisdiction of IHC at "a premature stage would not be appropriate".
The agency also cited a decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) in this regard.
During the hearing of the PTI’s petition against the ECP decision on Thursday, one of the judges had remarked that even if the watchdog’s report was set aside, the FIA could still proceed with the matter on the basis of facts and material.
The judge said that the agency would examine whether any element of criminality existed in the matter.
Express Tribune
Says investigation into illegalities being conducted within mandate
ISLAMABAD:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has justified its inquiry into the PTI prohibited funding case in the wake of the August 2 ECP pronouncement that the party had received funds from prohibited sources, saying it is only probing the alleged bank irregularities within its mandate.
In a reply submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which is hearing the PTI’s petition against the inquiry, the FIA explained that it was strictly inquiring into the alleged illegalities within its mandate vested under laws concerning the businesses of banks, and not under laws that stipulated regulations for party funding.
“Neither the Political Parties Order (PPO), 2002 is a schedule law of FIA Act, 1974 nor is FIA inquiring under the said order,” the agency stated, adding that its probe into the matter was empowered by Section 3 read with its preamble and scheduled laws.
It is noteworthy that Article 6 of the PPO, 2002, elaborates on who can be a donor/contributor to a political party, what is prohibited funding, and what happens to prohibited funding. In short, no foreign national, government or agency can fund a political party in Pakistan. If prohibited funding is proven as per PPO Article 6(4), the said funds are to be confiscated by the state.
The FIA, in its defence, said the law was not the basis of its action.
It stated that after careful examination of the ECP’s order, the concerned zonal directorates with territorial jurisdiction in the subject matter initiated several inquiries regarding "irregularities and illegalities".
The FIA cited Para 39 and other relevant observations made in the order, prima facie, regarding the operation of different bank accounts concerning the “business of a bank”.
The reply said that the inquiry officer of the FIA Commercial Banking Circle, Islamabad, on August 10 served notices on the petitioner in order to thrash out and determine whether any business of the bank had been cheated or not by the petitioner by operating bank accounts.
However, it maintained that the inquiry was still at its initial stage, contending that invoking the constitutional jurisdiction of IHC at "a premature stage would not be appropriate".
The agency also cited a decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) in this regard.
During the hearing of the PTI’s petition against the ECP decision on Thursday, one of the judges had remarked that even if the watchdog’s report was set aside, the FIA could still proceed with the matter on the basis of facts and material.
The judge said that the agency would examine whether any element of criminality existed in the matter.
Express Tribune
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As former premier Imran Khan’s PTI remains under the scanner in prohibited funding controversy, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has sent letters to over six countries, including the United Arab Emirates and the United States, seeking information and assistance for the probe.
In a letter written by the financial monitoring unit to the UAE, the country’s top investigative agency has sought assistance and details pertaining to a cricket club and the Abraaj Group, while seeking assistance.
Similarly, in another letter, the FIA has asked for information about an individual named Obida Shetty in Singapore apparently shown to have some links to the alleged shady transactions.
Meanwhile, a similar letter sent to the authorities in the United States requests information about companies in the country and seeks access to other relevant information. All the companies operating from there had shown transactions to the accounts of various leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, sources privy to the matter said.
The Federal Investigation Agency had kickstarted its countrywide investigation earlier this month into the utilisation of funds from “prohibited” sources by PTI after an Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ruling that the party secured illegal donations.
A total of six inquiries have been opened simultaneously in major cities of Pakistan, including federal capital Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi.
According to FIA authorities, 13 accounts have been identified in which these funds were transferred, and the agency has issued notices to the banks under which these accounts have been operating.
It is pertinent to note that the top agency has justified its inquiry into the PTI prohibited funding case, saying it is only probing the alleged bank irregularities within its mandate.
In a reply submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which is hearing the PTI’s petition against the inquiry, the FIA has explained that it was strictly inquiring into the alleged illegalities within its mandate vested under laws concerning the businesses of banks, and not under laws that stipulated regulations for party funding.
Express Tribune
In a letter written by the financial monitoring unit to the UAE, the country’s top investigative agency has sought assistance and details pertaining to a cricket club and the Abraaj Group, while seeking assistance.
Similarly, in another letter, the FIA has asked for information about an individual named Obida Shetty in Singapore apparently shown to have some links to the alleged shady transactions.
Meanwhile, a similar letter sent to the authorities in the United States requests information about companies in the country and seeks access to other relevant information. All the companies operating from there had shown transactions to the accounts of various leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, sources privy to the matter said.
The Federal Investigation Agency had kickstarted its countrywide investigation earlier this month into the utilisation of funds from “prohibited” sources by PTI after an Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ruling that the party secured illegal donations.
A total of six inquiries have been opened simultaneously in major cities of Pakistan, including federal capital Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi.
According to FIA authorities, 13 accounts have been identified in which these funds were transferred, and the agency has issued notices to the banks under which these accounts have been operating.
It is pertinent to note that the top agency has justified its inquiry into the PTI prohibited funding case, saying it is only probing the alleged bank irregularities within its mandate.
In a reply submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which is hearing the PTI’s petition against the inquiry, the FIA has explained that it was strictly inquiring into the alleged illegalities within its mandate vested under laws concerning the businesses of banks, and not under laws that stipulated regulations for party funding.
Express Tribune
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The Sindh and Lahore high courts on Tuesday retrained the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from taking action against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry.
Fawad Chaudhry had moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench against the electoral watchdog’s contempt of commission notice.
Earlier this month, the ECP had issued contempt notices to PTI leaders Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar for levelling allegations at the electoral body and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.
The electoral body had directed the opposition leaders to appear before it in person or submit their response through their lawyers on August 31.
As Justice Jawad Hassan heard the case today (Tuesday), Fawad’s counsel Advocate Faisal Farid argued that the ECP is not a court and therefore as per the constitution is not protected by the “contempt of court provisions”.
Subsequently, the court issued a notice seeking a response from the electoral body on September 7 while restraining it from issuing a final order on the matter.
ECP contempt case
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the ECP held a hearing on the contempt case against PTI chief Imran Khan, party General Secretary Asad Umar and senior member Fawad Chaudhry.
Imran’s lawyer Ali Bukhari informed the commission during the proceedings that he was “unsure why the notice was served” and requested time to submit a response.
Bukhari said that the order of the commission has also been challenged in the Sindh High Court (SHC) while the LHC has restrained the ECP from taking a decision. Later, PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry informed the court that the SHC had also stopped the commission in Asad Umar’s case.
The former ruling party's lawyer also claimed that they had “learned of the notice only orally” and requested time to submit the power of attorney letters. Upon this, the commission adjourned the hearing until September 7.
While issuing notices earlier, the ECP spokesperson had said in a statement that notices were issued to the PTI chief Imran Khan for using “insulting and unparliamentary remarks” against the electoral body in various speeches.
The commission had said it issued notices after reviewing the speeches of the PTI leaders which were provided by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on the electoral body’s request.
The ECP had sought clarification from the PTI leaders on allegations hurled against it.
Fawad Chaudhry had moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench against the electoral watchdog’s contempt of commission notice.
Earlier this month, the ECP had issued contempt notices to PTI leaders Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar for levelling allegations at the electoral body and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.
The electoral body had directed the opposition leaders to appear before it in person or submit their response through their lawyers on August 31.
As Justice Jawad Hassan heard the case today (Tuesday), Fawad’s counsel Advocate Faisal Farid argued that the ECP is not a court and therefore as per the constitution is not protected by the “contempt of court provisions”.
Subsequently, the court issued a notice seeking a response from the electoral body on September 7 while restraining it from issuing a final order on the matter.
ECP contempt case
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the ECP held a hearing on the contempt case against PTI chief Imran Khan, party General Secretary Asad Umar and senior member Fawad Chaudhry.
Imran’s lawyer Ali Bukhari informed the commission during the proceedings that he was “unsure why the notice was served” and requested time to submit a response.
Bukhari said that the order of the commission has also been challenged in the Sindh High Court (SHC) while the LHC has restrained the ECP from taking a decision. Later, PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry informed the court that the SHC had also stopped the commission in Asad Umar’s case.
The former ruling party's lawyer also claimed that they had “learned of the notice only orally” and requested time to submit the power of attorney letters. Upon this, the commission adjourned the hearing until September 7.
While issuing notices earlier, the ECP spokesperson had said in a statement that notices were issued to the PTI chief Imran Khan for using “insulting and unparliamentary remarks” against the electoral body in various speeches.
The commission had said it issued notices after reviewing the speeches of the PTI leaders which were provided by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on the electoral body’s request.
The ECP had sought clarification from the PTI leaders on allegations hurled against it.
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If there was any doubt about facsim in Pakistan, you only have to see the following paragraph from the above article,
"While issuing notices earlier, the ECP spokesperson had said in a statement that notices were issued to the PTI chief Imran Khan for using “insulting and unparliamentary remarks” against the electoral body in various speeches"
"While issuing notices earlier, the ECP spokesperson had said in a statement that notices were issued to the PTI chief Imran Khan for using “insulting and unparliamentary remarks” against the electoral body in various speeches"
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Probe reveals Imran withdrew Rs8m from PTI account
Imran Khan used his own national identity card to validate the transactions.
ISLAMABAD: Fifty-two transactions from five bank accounts of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should have been flagged as suspicious, a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) probe said. These include two large withdrawals made by party Chairman Imran Khan amounting to Rs8 million from a PTI account in March 2013.
According to sources close to the investigation, the banks should have generated suspicious transaction reports (STRs) on 52 transactions, made by accounts associated with the PTI. These transactions include two withdrawals amounting to Rs8 million, made by former premier Imran Khan himself, both from PTI’s HBL Civic Centre, Islamabad account in March 2013. Khan used his own national identity card to validate the transactions.
The probe also revealed names of nine individuals who withdrew large amounts of cash from party accounts. Their names and national ID card numbers are being verified from the relevant banks.
The probe also discovered three remittances were traced to the PTI accounts. Two of those were from Nasir Aziz and Romita Shetty, amounting to US$25,000 and US$2,500, respectively, while a third remittance of US$2,480, was not detected by the ECP, from DIMAIO Ahmad Capital LLC in New York, USA.
The PTI also opened a merchant account using the commercial name Naya Pakistan, which reported transactions of more than Rs21 million between April and November 2013.
The probe has revealed that money was sent from an account named Wootton Cricket, a Cayman Islands registered offshore firm, owned by Arif Naqvi of the Abraaj Group, to The Insaf Trust account, opened by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s close friend, Tariq Shafi, in his capacity as the first chairman of the trust. Shafi also received $575,000 in one of his personal accounts and transferred it to a declared account of the PTI.
On Friday last week, Shafi was interviewed by the FIA investigation team in Lahore. Shafi told the investigating officers that he did not know Arif Naqvi and was not aware of transfers to his personal accounts or accounts of the Insaf Trust. Sources close to these developments say Shafi was questioned for a long time about the Insaf Trust, but he maintained that the trust and PTI had no connection.
The News PK
Imran Khan used his own national identity card to validate the transactions.
ISLAMABAD: Fifty-two transactions from five bank accounts of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should have been flagged as suspicious, a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) probe said. These include two large withdrawals made by party Chairman Imran Khan amounting to Rs8 million from a PTI account in March 2013.
According to sources close to the investigation, the banks should have generated suspicious transaction reports (STRs) on 52 transactions, made by accounts associated with the PTI. These transactions include two withdrawals amounting to Rs8 million, made by former premier Imran Khan himself, both from PTI’s HBL Civic Centre, Islamabad account in March 2013. Khan used his own national identity card to validate the transactions.
The probe also revealed names of nine individuals who withdrew large amounts of cash from party accounts. Their names and national ID card numbers are being verified from the relevant banks.
The probe also discovered three remittances were traced to the PTI accounts. Two of those were from Nasir Aziz and Romita Shetty, amounting to US$25,000 and US$2,500, respectively, while a third remittance of US$2,480, was not detected by the ECP, from DIMAIO Ahmad Capital LLC in New York, USA.
The PTI also opened a merchant account using the commercial name Naya Pakistan, which reported transactions of more than Rs21 million between April and November 2013.
The probe has revealed that money was sent from an account named Wootton Cricket, a Cayman Islands registered offshore firm, owned by Arif Naqvi of the Abraaj Group, to The Insaf Trust account, opened by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s close friend, Tariq Shafi, in his capacity as the first chairman of the trust. Shafi also received $575,000 in one of his personal accounts and transferred it to a declared account of the PTI.
On Friday last week, Shafi was interviewed by the FIA investigation team in Lahore. Shafi told the investigating officers that he did not know Arif Naqvi and was not aware of transfers to his personal accounts or accounts of the Insaf Trust. Sources close to these developments say Shafi was questioned for a long time about the Insaf Trust, but he maintained that the trust and PTI had no connection.
The News PK
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ECP terms Imran’s response ‘unsatisfactory’
ECP summons Imran Khan in his personal capacity along with Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar on September 27
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday termed PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s response in the contempt case ‘unsatisfactory’ and summoned him in his personal capacity along with Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar on September 27.
A four–member ECP bench took up the contempt case against Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar. The response — submitted by Barrister Gohar and Faisal Chaudhry Advocate — said Imran Khan did not insult the Election Commission but only expressed concern about the role of the Commission in his statements.
“The Election Commission has no authority to hear the cases, nor can the Secretary of the Election Commission send notices. The ECP’s notice is a violation of the Constitution, so it should be withdrawn,” it further stated.
Faisal Chaudhry informed the bench that they had already challenged the matter in the Lahore High Court. “The show-cause notice has been issued by the secretary Election Commission; however, as per law, he is not mandated to issue any such notice. Only
the Supreme Court has the authority to issue it. The matter is already pending with the Lahore High Court and the Election Commission is also a respondent in the case,” he told the bench.
Speaking to the media after appearing before the four-member bench, Faisal said he had submitted the response arguing that the ECP was not a judicial platform and hence it could not issue contempt notices.
“A judicial reference has also been filed against the ECP Member Nisar Durrani with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). We have asked him to disassociate himself from the bench hearing the matter,” he said, adding that the ECP had reserved the verdict on the matter.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) had restrained the Election Commission of Pakistan from taking action against the PTI leaders in the contempt case.
According to details, Justice Jawad Hassan heard the petition filed by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry with the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench against the electoral watchdog’s contempt notice.
During the hearing, Fawad’s counsel Advocate Faisal Chaudhry argued that the ECP was not a court and therefore as per the Constitution was not protected by the “contempt of court provisions”.
Subsequently, the court issued a notice seeking response from the electoral body on September 7 while restraining it from issuing a final order on the matter.
On August 19, the Election Commission issued a contempt notice to Imran Khan, Asad Umar, and Fawad Chaudhry.
Meanwhile, PTI Senior Vice-President Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Monday hinted at a bid to assassinate Imran Khan after his rivals failed to outmaneuver him politically.
“All these people are working on the assassination of Imran Khan and they are small part of the scheme. This is the only government that is using the religious card to get rid of Imran Khan. It filed cases of blasphemy and then terrorism. When things did not materialise, these people want to create an atmosphere of religious hatred by taking up different statements,” he said while speaking to reporters after attending the party’s political committee meeting.
Flanked by PTI Senator Sania Nishtar, Fawad said a group of journalists working with the Strategic Media Cell had also made a video.
“All these people are actually working on the murder of Imran Khan; they are small partners of the whole scheme and want to create religious hatred in the country,” Fawad claimed.
He alleged that the Strategic Media Cell was run and financed by Maryam Nawaz and said using religious card to eliminate Imran Khan was no problem for them.
“What Maryam Nawaz did today or Fazlur Rehman did before that? They want Imran physically eliminated because he is not losing the elections,” he said.
Fawad alleged that Maryam Nawaz’s media cell was working day and night to spread riots in Pakistan and she was also setting its agenda.
“Time does not remain the same. What they are doing today, they will be held accountable for it,” he remarked.
Fawad said the way some news channels were shut down for showing Imran’s telethon was extremely condemnable adding that they will challenge the closure of broadcast in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
“We are going to the Islamabad High Court on the closure of broadcast and we will ask the government, if not you, then who orders that the channels should be closed. Whoever is doing it, Pakistan has gone to the brink of destruction,” he maintained.
“The telethon was apolitical, as a large number of people have been affected by the floods and the government and the media should have supported the PTI,” he remarked.
Fawad said the PTI alone conducted two telethons for the flood victims.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sania Nishtar said in the telethon held on August 29, a commitment of Rs5 billion was made out of which Rs2 billion was committed by a single person from Texas for rehabilitation.
“This money has to come in the second phase; we have Rs3.3 billion in the bank,” she said. Dr Sania said out of Rs3.3 billion, Rs1.9 billion was received from the expatriates and Rs1.93 billion from Pakistan. She noted that Rs3.8 billion could not be received from abroad through credit cards due to some reasons. Dr. Sania said Rs5.2 billion was collected in two hours in the telethon.
The News PK
ECP summons Imran Khan in his personal capacity along with Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar on September 27
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday termed PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s response in the contempt case ‘unsatisfactory’ and summoned him in his personal capacity along with Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar on September 27.
A four–member ECP bench took up the contempt case against Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar. The response — submitted by Barrister Gohar and Faisal Chaudhry Advocate — said Imran Khan did not insult the Election Commission but only expressed concern about the role of the Commission in his statements.
“The Election Commission has no authority to hear the cases, nor can the Secretary of the Election Commission send notices. The ECP’s notice is a violation of the Constitution, so it should be withdrawn,” it further stated.
Faisal Chaudhry informed the bench that they had already challenged the matter in the Lahore High Court. “The show-cause notice has been issued by the secretary Election Commission; however, as per law, he is not mandated to issue any such notice. Only
the Supreme Court has the authority to issue it. The matter is already pending with the Lahore High Court and the Election Commission is also a respondent in the case,” he told the bench.
Speaking to the media after appearing before the four-member bench, Faisal said he had submitted the response arguing that the ECP was not a judicial platform and hence it could not issue contempt notices.
“A judicial reference has also been filed against the ECP Member Nisar Durrani with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). We have asked him to disassociate himself from the bench hearing the matter,” he said, adding that the ECP had reserved the verdict on the matter.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) had restrained the Election Commission of Pakistan from taking action against the PTI leaders in the contempt case.
According to details, Justice Jawad Hassan heard the petition filed by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry with the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench against the electoral watchdog’s contempt notice.
During the hearing, Fawad’s counsel Advocate Faisal Chaudhry argued that the ECP was not a court and therefore as per the Constitution was not protected by the “contempt of court provisions”.
Subsequently, the court issued a notice seeking response from the electoral body on September 7 while restraining it from issuing a final order on the matter.
On August 19, the Election Commission issued a contempt notice to Imran Khan, Asad Umar, and Fawad Chaudhry.
Meanwhile, PTI Senior Vice-President Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Monday hinted at a bid to assassinate Imran Khan after his rivals failed to outmaneuver him politically.
“All these people are working on the assassination of Imran Khan and they are small part of the scheme. This is the only government that is using the religious card to get rid of Imran Khan. It filed cases of blasphemy and then terrorism. When things did not materialise, these people want to create an atmosphere of religious hatred by taking up different statements,” he said while speaking to reporters after attending the party’s political committee meeting.
Flanked by PTI Senator Sania Nishtar, Fawad said a group of journalists working with the Strategic Media Cell had also made a video.
“All these people are actually working on the murder of Imran Khan; they are small partners of the whole scheme and want to create religious hatred in the country,” Fawad claimed.
He alleged that the Strategic Media Cell was run and financed by Maryam Nawaz and said using religious card to eliminate Imran Khan was no problem for them.
“What Maryam Nawaz did today or Fazlur Rehman did before that? They want Imran physically eliminated because he is not losing the elections,” he said.
Fawad alleged that Maryam Nawaz’s media cell was working day and night to spread riots in Pakistan and she was also setting its agenda.
“Time does not remain the same. What they are doing today, they will be held accountable for it,” he remarked.
Fawad said the way some news channels were shut down for showing Imran’s telethon was extremely condemnable adding that they will challenge the closure of broadcast in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
“We are going to the Islamabad High Court on the closure of broadcast and we will ask the government, if not you, then who orders that the channels should be closed. Whoever is doing it, Pakistan has gone to the brink of destruction,” he maintained.
“The telethon was apolitical, as a large number of people have been affected by the floods and the government and the media should have supported the PTI,” he remarked.
Fawad said the PTI alone conducted two telethons for the flood victims.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sania Nishtar said in the telethon held on August 29, a commitment of Rs5 billion was made out of which Rs2 billion was committed by a single person from Texas for rehabilitation.
“This money has to come in the second phase; we have Rs3.3 billion in the bank,” she said. Dr Sania said out of Rs3.3 billion, Rs1.9 billion was received from the expatriates and Rs1.93 billion from Pakistan. She noted that Rs3.8 billion could not be received from abroad through credit cards due to some reasons. Dr. Sania said Rs5.2 billion was collected in two hours in the telethon.
The News PK
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LHC moved against ECP’s powers
Petitioner contends poll supervisor neither a court nor can it exercise judicial powers
LAHORE:
A petition was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) powers to initiate contempt of court proceedings.
Mian Shabbir Ismail, the petitioner, filed the petition through Advocate Azhar Siddiqui, wherein the ECP and the Punjab government were made parties.
The plea challenged Section 10 of the Election Act, 2017, contending that the ECP was neither a court nor can it exercise judicial powers, and giving it the power to initiate contempt proceedings was a violation of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973.
It further argued that the power of contempt proceedings lies only with the court, and the ECP did not have any authority in this regard since it is only an administrative body.
Ismail also argued that if the ECP had to be given the powers to initiate contempt proceedings, it would have been provided for in the constitution.
Therefore, the petitioner requested the court to issue an injunction against Section 10.
It is pertinent to note that earlier this week, PTI chief Imran Khan also challenged the jurisdiction of the electoral watchdog in his written reply to the ECP in a contempt case, saying the notice issued to him was against the Constitution.
The written reply maintained that he had not insulted the election commission.
However, terming the reply unsatisfactory, the election supervisor issued a show-cause notice to the PTI chief and summoned him in a personal capacity on September 27.
Last month, the ECP had issued notices to the PTI chief and party leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar for levelling allegations against the commission and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.
The ECP spokesperson in a statement had maintained that notice had been issued to the PTI chairman for using “insulting and unparliamentary language” against the electoral body in various speeches.
The commission said the notices were issued after reviewing speeches of the PTI leaders which were provided by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) at the electoral body’s request.
Express Tribune
Petitioner contends poll supervisor neither a court nor can it exercise judicial powers
LAHORE:
A petition was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) powers to initiate contempt of court proceedings.
Mian Shabbir Ismail, the petitioner, filed the petition through Advocate Azhar Siddiqui, wherein the ECP and the Punjab government were made parties.
The plea challenged Section 10 of the Election Act, 2017, contending that the ECP was neither a court nor can it exercise judicial powers, and giving it the power to initiate contempt proceedings was a violation of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973.
It further argued that the power of contempt proceedings lies only with the court, and the ECP did not have any authority in this regard since it is only an administrative body.
Ismail also argued that if the ECP had to be given the powers to initiate contempt proceedings, it would have been provided for in the constitution.
Therefore, the petitioner requested the court to issue an injunction against Section 10.
It is pertinent to note that earlier this week, PTI chief Imran Khan also challenged the jurisdiction of the electoral watchdog in his written reply to the ECP in a contempt case, saying the notice issued to him was against the Constitution.
The written reply maintained that he had not insulted the election commission.
However, terming the reply unsatisfactory, the election supervisor issued a show-cause notice to the PTI chief and summoned him in a personal capacity on September 27.
Last month, the ECP had issued notices to the PTI chief and party leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar for levelling allegations against the commission and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.
The ECP spokesperson in a statement had maintained that notice had been issued to the PTI chairman for using “insulting and unparliamentary language” against the electoral body in various speeches.
The commission said the notices were issued after reviewing speeches of the PTI leaders which were provided by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) at the electoral body’s request.
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The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday restrained the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from passing adverse decisions against former prime minister Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Chaudhry Fawad in matters related to contempt.
The electoral watchdog had issued contempt notices to both the leaders for levelling allegations against ECP members including Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The electoral watchdog had issued contempt notices to both the leaders for levelling allegations against ECP members including Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
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Govt taking its time to take on PTI in prohibited funding case
It is waiting for FIA report till October as it believes there is still not enough proof against party
ISLAMABAD:
Given PTI Chairman Imran Khan's popularity, some unknown fear or lack of evidence, the government seems reluctant to take action against his party.
Even after nearly two months have passed since August 2, the government has not decided on the PTI’s prohibited funding issue.
Neither a declaration has been filed against the PTI, nor a reference for Imran's disqualification.
Besides, there is complete silence on the issue in the government ranks,.
The federal government will take the matter forward as a result of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) reports.
Sources said the federal government had been unable to make a final decision on the matter.
The consultations on whether to file an anti-PTI declaration or a disqualification reference against its chief remain pending.
On August 2, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had finally announced its ruling in the long-awaited, cliffhanger case of the PTI's prohibited funding and ruled that the party did indeed receive illegal funding. It had also issued a notice to the PTI asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar which had been pending since November 14, 2014.
In its written order, the ECP said the political party received millions of dollars in illegal funds from foreign countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, UK, and Australia.
The electoral watchdog also declared that 13 'unknown' accounts have been found linked to the party and the submissions by the PTI chief were 'inaccurate and wrong'.
The federal cabinet had urgently decided to grab on to this opportunity.
In the cabinet meeting, a ministerial committee was established under the chairmanship of Federal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, but that body was still inactive.
According to the sources, this committee had to prepare a declaration against the PTI and submit it to the Supreme Court, while preparing a reference for Imran's disqualification.
The sources said the government believed that there was nothing concrete against the PTI except the ECP’s report.
They added that the investigation report of FIA will be awaited till October. After that, any constitutional and legal option would be decided in the light of that report.
According to government sources, a decision would be made after collecting all the material on the issue.
They added that the declaration against the PTI would not be filed in a hurry as it might benefit the party.
If the FIA report had enough material, then a reference would be filed against Imran along with a declaration of dissolution of the party immediately.
Express Tribune
It is waiting for FIA report till October as it believes there is still not enough proof against party
ISLAMABAD:
Given PTI Chairman Imran Khan's popularity, some unknown fear or lack of evidence, the government seems reluctant to take action against his party.
Even after nearly two months have passed since August 2, the government has not decided on the PTI’s prohibited funding issue.
Neither a declaration has been filed against the PTI, nor a reference for Imran's disqualification.
Besides, there is complete silence on the issue in the government ranks,.
The federal government will take the matter forward as a result of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) reports.
Sources said the federal government had been unable to make a final decision on the matter.
The consultations on whether to file an anti-PTI declaration or a disqualification reference against its chief remain pending.
On August 2, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had finally announced its ruling in the long-awaited, cliffhanger case of the PTI's prohibited funding and ruled that the party did indeed receive illegal funding. It had also issued a notice to the PTI asking why the funds should not be confiscated.
A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar which had been pending since November 14, 2014.
In its written order, the ECP said the political party received millions of dollars in illegal funds from foreign countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, UK, and Australia.
The electoral watchdog also declared that 13 'unknown' accounts have been found linked to the party and the submissions by the PTI chief were 'inaccurate and wrong'.
The federal cabinet had urgently decided to grab on to this opportunity.
In the cabinet meeting, a ministerial committee was established under the chairmanship of Federal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, but that body was still inactive.
According to the sources, this committee had to prepare a declaration against the PTI and submit it to the Supreme Court, while preparing a reference for Imran's disqualification.
The sources said the government believed that there was nothing concrete against the PTI except the ECP’s report.
They added that the investigation report of FIA will be awaited till October. After that, any constitutional and legal option would be decided in the light of that report.
According to government sources, a decision would be made after collecting all the material on the issue.
They added that the declaration against the PTI would not be filed in a hurry as it might benefit the party.
If the FIA report had enough material, then a reference would be filed against Imran along with a declaration of dissolution of the party immediately.
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An Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) bench on Tuesday summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Secretary General Asad Umar, and senior party leader Fawad Chaudhry in a personal capacity on October 11 in a contempt case against them.
During the hearing of the case of contempt of the ECP and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SIkandar Sultan Raja, the four-member bench, headed by Nisar Durrani, expressed its annoyance over the absence of the three PTI leaders.
During the hearing of the case of contempt of the ECP and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SIkandar Sultan Raja, the four-member bench, headed by Nisar Durrani, expressed its annoyance over the absence of the three PTI leaders.
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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) challenged the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) inquiry regarding the prohibited funding case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday.
In the petition, the PTI called for the FIA to be restrained from making arrests and conducting raids in connection with the case. The home secretary, DG FIA and the investigating officer were made parties in the petition.
The party accused the FIA of "harassing" party leaders on a political basis, urging the court to restrain the agency from investigating the prohibited funding case.
The PTI maintained in its plea that the party raised funds to run an anti-government movement after the 'regime change'. All funds sent from abroad were received as per the law, argued the PTI.
"The FIA inquiry and raids are illegal and should be stopped immediately," the petition said, adding that the FIA raided PTI Senator Saifullah Nyazee's house and harassed him.
A day earlier, it was reported that the FIA had taken Nyazee into custody from the premises of the upper house of parliament and transferred him to a cell.
When news of this development surfaced, the FIA spokesperson described the reports as “baseless and false”, adding that no wing of the FIA had taken Nyazee into custody.
However, during a news conference in Islamabad, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed that the PTI senator had, indeed, been taken into custody and if needed, would be arrested.
Another founding member of the PTI, Hamid Zaman, was also arrested a day ago by the FIA, in connection with the prohibited funding case. He was taken into custody from his office on Waris Road in Lahore.
Reports are also circulating that the FIA team had raided PTI leader Aamir Kayani’s house to arrest him. However, the agency did not issue a statement about this raid.
The house of Tariq Shafi, another founding member of the PTI and a member of the party's finance board, was also raided in Karachi. He was not at home at the time. The house was searched and two mobile phones were seized.
The FIA had kicked off its probe against the PTI in August this year after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declared that the party had, indeed, received prohibited funding.
Express Tribune
In the petition, the PTI called for the FIA to be restrained from making arrests and conducting raids in connection with the case. The home secretary, DG FIA and the investigating officer were made parties in the petition.
The party accused the FIA of "harassing" party leaders on a political basis, urging the court to restrain the agency from investigating the prohibited funding case.
The PTI maintained in its plea that the party raised funds to run an anti-government movement after the 'regime change'. All funds sent from abroad were received as per the law, argued the PTI.
"The FIA inquiry and raids are illegal and should be stopped immediately," the petition said, adding that the FIA raided PTI Senator Saifullah Nyazee's house and harassed him.
A day earlier, it was reported that the FIA had taken Nyazee into custody from the premises of the upper house of parliament and transferred him to a cell.
When news of this development surfaced, the FIA spokesperson described the reports as “baseless and false”, adding that no wing of the FIA had taken Nyazee into custody.
However, during a news conference in Islamabad, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed that the PTI senator had, indeed, been taken into custody and if needed, would be arrested.
Another founding member of the PTI, Hamid Zaman, was also arrested a day ago by the FIA, in connection with the prohibited funding case. He was taken into custody from his office on Waris Road in Lahore.
Reports are also circulating that the FIA team had raided PTI leader Aamir Kayani’s house to arrest him. However, the agency did not issue a statement about this raid.
The house of Tariq Shafi, another founding member of the PTI and a member of the party's finance board, was also raided in Karachi. He was not at home at the time. The house was searched and two mobile phones were seized.
The FIA had kicked off its probe against the PTI in August this year after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declared that the party had, indeed, received prohibited funding.
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The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has booked former prime minister Imran Khan and other PTI leaders in connection with their party allegedly received prohibited funding, it emerged on Tuesday.
The case was filed by the state through FIA’s Corporate Banking Circle in Islamabad. The first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, stated that Arif Masood Naqvi — the owner of the Wooton Cricket Limited — transferred “ill-gotten” money to a United Bank Limited (UBL) account registered under the name of the PTI.
“The purpose stated in the swift messages of the transactions is ‘agreed transfer’ to disguise the true nature, origin, location, movement and ownership of these funds. Arif Masood Naqvi is also the founder/owner of Abraaj Group, UAE, which collapsed in 2018. Arif Masood Naqvi lied about the performance of Abraaj’s funds by inflating their value,” the complaint added.
“Therefore, Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) imposed penalties on two Abraaj Group companies for carrying out un-authorised activities in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and misusing investors’ money. The regulator imposed penalties amounting to $299.30 million on Abraaj Investment Management Limited and Abraaj Capital respectively.”
It further said that Naqvi was also facing trials in the United Kingdom and the United States for defrauding investors.
The complaint named Imran Khan, Sardar Azhar Tariq Khan, Saifullah Khan Nyazee, Syed Yunus Ali Raza, Aamer Mehmood Kiani, Tariq Rahim Sheikh, Tariq Shafi, Faisal Maqbool Shaikh, Hamid Zaman and Manzoor Ahmad Chaudhary as signatories/beneficiaries of the PTI account in question.
“PTI submitted an affidavit of Arif Masood Naqvi before the Election Commission of Pakistan stating therein that all the amounts collected in the accounts of WCL were submitted into PTI’s account in Pakistan. This affidavit has been proved to be false/forged as two more transactions were also made from WCL to two different accounts in Pakistan in May 2013.”
The FIR further said that 12 CTRs/STRs had to be reported by the UBL management to the authorities but they failed to do so. “Chaudhary Shahid Bashir, the operation manager of UBL’s Jinnah Avenue branch in Islamabad, facilitated these suspicious/illegal transactions by not reporting the aforesaid illegalities to the concerned authorities and also allowed Internet Merchant Acquiring Agreement changing the title of the account to Naya Pakistan”.
Subsequently, the FIA said a case under sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), 477-A (falsification of accounts) and 109 (punishment of abetment if the Act abetted committed In consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment) of the Pakistan Penal code has been registered against Imran, his party leaders and the management of UBL.
They have also been booked under Section 23 (penalty and procedure) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947.
The FIR comes days after the FIA took Saifullah Nyazee and Amir Zaman into protective custody for interrogation in the case triggering several condemnations from the party.
The prohibited funding case
Last month, the ECP had issued its verdict in the prohibited funding case — previously referred to as the foreign funding case — against the PTI, which stated that the party did indeed receive prohibited funding.
A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander (CEC) Sultan Raja had announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar which had been pending since November 14, 2014.
In the verdict, the commission noted that the party “knowingly and willfully” received funding from Wootton Cricket Limited, operated by business tycoon Arif Naqvi. The party was a “willing recipient” of prohibited money of $2,121,500, it said.
The ECP said that the party “knowingly and willfully” also received donations from Bristol Engineering Services (a UAE-based company), E-Planet Trustees (a Cayman Islands private registered company), SS Marketing Manchester (a UK-based private company), PTI USA LLC-6160 and PTI USA LLC-5975 which were “hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws”.
It went on to say that the party also received donations through PTI Canada Corporation and PTI UK Public Limited Company. “From both the companies, the amounts received into its accounts of PTI Pakistan are hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws.
“PTI Pakistan, through fundraising campaigns by PTI USA LLC-6160 and PTI USA LLC-5975, was a recipient of donations from 34 foreign nationals and 351 foreign-based companies. Collection of donations and contributions from foreign nationals and companies are hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws,” it said.
The electoral watchdog also said that the PTI had been found to be a beneficiary of donations made by Romita Shetty, a US-based business woman of Indian-origin which was in violation of the law.
The ECP said the party had only owned eight accounts before the commission and declared 13 accounts to be unknown. “The data obtained from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reveals that all the 13 accounts disowned by the PTI were opened and operated by senior PTI management and leadership at [a] central and provincial level.”
The commission noted that the party also failed to mention three accounts which were also being operated by the party’s senior leadership. Non-disclosure and concealment of 16 bank accounts by the PTI is a “serious lapse” on part of the PTI’s leadership and in violation of Article 17(3) of the Constitution, it said.
Article 17(3) says: “Every political party shall account for the source of its funds in accordance with the law.”
The PTI chairman submitted Form-I for five years (between 2008-2013) which was found to be “grossly inaccurate on the basis of the financial statements obtained by this commission from SBP and other material available on record”.
“Therefore […] the matter falls within the ambit of Article 6(3) of Political Parties Order 2002 (PPO). Hence , the commission directs that a notice may be issued to the respondent party in terms of Rule 6 of the PPO as to why the aforementioned prohibited funds may not be confiscated. The office is also directed to initiate any other action under the law in light of this order of the commission, including forwarding the case to the federal government.”
Article 6(3) of the PPO states: “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 its order, the commission also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes.”
“Imran Khan, for the five years under review, has filed submissions that were grossly inaccurate and wrong. Even during the course of scrutiny and hearing by this commission, the PTI continued to conceal and withhold complete and full disclosure of [the] source of its funds,” it added.
The case was filed by the state through FIA’s Corporate Banking Circle in Islamabad. The first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, stated that Arif Masood Naqvi — the owner of the Wooton Cricket Limited — transferred “ill-gotten” money to a United Bank Limited (UBL) account registered under the name of the PTI.
“The purpose stated in the swift messages of the transactions is ‘agreed transfer’ to disguise the true nature, origin, location, movement and ownership of these funds. Arif Masood Naqvi is also the founder/owner of Abraaj Group, UAE, which collapsed in 2018. Arif Masood Naqvi lied about the performance of Abraaj’s funds by inflating their value,” the complaint added.
“Therefore, Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) imposed penalties on two Abraaj Group companies for carrying out un-authorised activities in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and misusing investors’ money. The regulator imposed penalties amounting to $299.30 million on Abraaj Investment Management Limited and Abraaj Capital respectively.”
It further said that Naqvi was also facing trials in the United Kingdom and the United States for defrauding investors.
The complaint named Imran Khan, Sardar Azhar Tariq Khan, Saifullah Khan Nyazee, Syed Yunus Ali Raza, Aamer Mehmood Kiani, Tariq Rahim Sheikh, Tariq Shafi, Faisal Maqbool Shaikh, Hamid Zaman and Manzoor Ahmad Chaudhary as signatories/beneficiaries of the PTI account in question.
“PTI submitted an affidavit of Arif Masood Naqvi before the Election Commission of Pakistan stating therein that all the amounts collected in the accounts of WCL were submitted into PTI’s account in Pakistan. This affidavit has been proved to be false/forged as two more transactions were also made from WCL to two different accounts in Pakistan in May 2013.”
The FIR further said that 12 CTRs/STRs had to be reported by the UBL management to the authorities but they failed to do so. “Chaudhary Shahid Bashir, the operation manager of UBL’s Jinnah Avenue branch in Islamabad, facilitated these suspicious/illegal transactions by not reporting the aforesaid illegalities to the concerned authorities and also allowed Internet Merchant Acquiring Agreement changing the title of the account to Naya Pakistan”.
Subsequently, the FIA said a case under sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), 477-A (falsification of accounts) and 109 (punishment of abetment if the Act abetted committed In consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment) of the Pakistan Penal code has been registered against Imran, his party leaders and the management of UBL.
They have also been booked under Section 23 (penalty and procedure) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947.
The FIR comes days after the FIA took Saifullah Nyazee and Amir Zaman into protective custody for interrogation in the case triggering several condemnations from the party.
The prohibited funding case
Last month, the ECP had issued its verdict in the prohibited funding case — previously referred to as the foreign funding case — against the PTI, which stated that the party did indeed receive prohibited funding.
A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander (CEC) Sultan Raja had announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar which had been pending since November 14, 2014.
In the verdict, the commission noted that the party “knowingly and willfully” received funding from Wootton Cricket Limited, operated by business tycoon Arif Naqvi. The party was a “willing recipient” of prohibited money of $2,121,500, it said.
The ECP said that the party “knowingly and willfully” also received donations from Bristol Engineering Services (a UAE-based company), E-Planet Trustees (a Cayman Islands private registered company), SS Marketing Manchester (a UK-based private company), PTI USA LLC-6160 and PTI USA LLC-5975 which were “hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws”.
It went on to say that the party also received donations through PTI Canada Corporation and PTI UK Public Limited Company. “From both the companies, the amounts received into its accounts of PTI Pakistan are hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws.
“PTI Pakistan, through fundraising campaigns by PTI USA LLC-6160 and PTI USA LLC-5975, was a recipient of donations from 34 foreign nationals and 351 foreign-based companies. Collection of donations and contributions from foreign nationals and companies are hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws,” it said.
The electoral watchdog also said that the PTI had been found to be a beneficiary of donations made by Romita Shetty, a US-based business woman of Indian-origin which was in violation of the law.
The ECP said the party had only owned eight accounts before the commission and declared 13 accounts to be unknown. “The data obtained from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reveals that all the 13 accounts disowned by the PTI were opened and operated by senior PTI management and leadership at [a] central and provincial level.”
The commission noted that the party also failed to mention three accounts which were also being operated by the party’s senior leadership. Non-disclosure and concealment of 16 bank accounts by the PTI is a “serious lapse” on part of the PTI’s leadership and in violation of Article 17(3) of the Constitution, it said.
Article 17(3) says: “Every political party shall account for the source of its funds in accordance with the law.”
The PTI chairman submitted Form-I for five years (between 2008-2013) which was found to be “grossly inaccurate on the basis of the financial statements obtained by this commission from SBP and other material available on record”.
“Therefore […] the matter falls within the ambit of Article 6(3) of Political Parties Order 2002 (PPO). Hence , the commission directs that a notice may be issued to the respondent party in terms of Rule 6 of the PPO as to why the aforementioned prohibited funds may not be confiscated. The office is also directed to initiate any other action under the law in light of this order of the commission, including forwarding the case to the federal government.”
Article 6(3) of the PPO states: “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 its order, the commission also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes.”
“Imran Khan, for the five years under review, has filed submissions that were grossly inaccurate and wrong. Even during the course of scrutiny and hearing by this commission, the PTI continued to conceal and withhold complete and full disclosure of [the] source of its funds,” it added.
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Former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan has filed plea in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking protective bail after FIA registered case against him in prohibited funding, ARY News reported.
Imran Khan in his plea stated that FIA has registered a case against him under Foreign Exchange Act and pleaded with the court to grant him protective bail so he can appear before relevant court.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Registrar IHC Asad Khan raised objections on the plea stating that the applicant has not attested copy of the FIR and how can he contact the high court before appearing in the special court.
The IHC assistant registrar also raised objection on non-biometric of Imran Khan.
Later, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah ruled out the objections raised by the registrar office and heard the plea. The CJ IHC ordered the Islamabad administration not to harass the plaintiff and ordered him to appear before the court by 3pm today.
On Tuesday, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and 10 others over accusations of receiving foreign funding.
The case had been registered by the FIA Corporate Banking Circle.
Imran Khan in his plea stated that FIA has registered a case against him under Foreign Exchange Act and pleaded with the court to grant him protective bail so he can appear before relevant court.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Registrar IHC Asad Khan raised objections on the plea stating that the applicant has not attested copy of the FIR and how can he contact the high court before appearing in the special court.
The IHC assistant registrar also raised objection on non-biometric of Imran Khan.
Later, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah ruled out the objections raised by the registrar office and heard the plea. The CJ IHC ordered the Islamabad administration not to harass the plaintiff and ordered him to appear before the court by 3pm today.
On Tuesday, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and 10 others over accusations of receiving foreign funding.
The case had been registered by the FIA Corporate Banking Circle.
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The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned former prime minister Imran Khan in a prohibited funding case against his party for allegedly submitting false affidavits to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Sources in the FIA said the agency had asked the PTI chairman to appear before an investigation team at its Karachi office on Oct 31 (tomorrow). Mr Khan is currently leading a long march, which began from Lahore on Friday and is on its way to Islamabad.
The agency has also obtained arrest warrants of several suspects, including PTI leaders Saifullah Nyazee and Amir Kayani.
On Oct 5, the FIA registered two FIRs in Lahore and Karachi against the party leadership. Both reports carried the same charges, i.e. sections 420 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
Arrest warrants out for party leaders Saifullah Nyazee, Amir Kayani, others
The FIR lodged in Lahore accused Arif Naqvi, Tariq Shafi, Zaman Khan, Manzoor Ahmed Chaudhry, Mubashir Ahmed, the management of Habib Bank Limited and the PTI leadership of fraud.
The one registered in Karachi pointed out that Mr Naqvi was a major beneficiary of foreign funding and received foreign telegraphic transfers (FTTs) from Abraaj Investment Management Limited, Aman Foundation, Gray Mackenzie Holdings, Silver Line Holdings, and Strelizia ATF Aman.
Sources said Mr Khan had been summoned after an investigation team found that Mr Shafi transferred Rs562 million from Karachi to the United Bank Limited’s (UBL) Jinnah Avenue branch in Islamabad in a PTI account to which Mr Khan was a signatory.
In an FIR registered earlier this month by the FIA’s Commercial Bank Circle in Islamabad, the investigation agency said: “The PTI submitted an affidavit of [Abraaj founder] Arif Masood Naqvi before the Election Commission of Pakistan stating therein that all the amounts collected in the accounts of WCL (Wootton Cricket Limited) were submitted into PTI’s account in Pakistan … [the] affidavit has been proved to be false/forged as two more transactions were also made from WCL to two different accounts in Pakistan in May 2013.”
The FIR also mentioned the UBL for its alleged failure to report suspicious transactions to authorities.
“Chaudhary Shahid Bashir, the operations manager of UBL’s Jinnah Avenue branch in Islamabad, facilitated these suspicious/illegal transactions by not reporting the aforesaid illegalities to the authorities concerned and also allowed internet merchant acquiring agreement changing the title of the account to Naya Pakistan,” it added.
The FIR lodged in Islamabad contained sections 420, 468, 471, 477-A, and 109 of the PPC, read with sections 5 and 23 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act of 1947.
According to the FIR, the Abraaj owner transferred over $2.12 million of his “ill-gotten” money to a PTI bank account, whose signatories included Imran Khan and Saifullah Nyazee, among other party leaders.
Sources said the FIA also obtained arrest warrants for Mr Nyazee, Amir Kayani and four others in that FIR.
Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2022
Sources in the FIA said the agency had asked the PTI chairman to appear before an investigation team at its Karachi office on Oct 31 (tomorrow). Mr Khan is currently leading a long march, which began from Lahore on Friday and is on its way to Islamabad.
The agency has also obtained arrest warrants of several suspects, including PTI leaders Saifullah Nyazee and Amir Kayani.
On Oct 5, the FIA registered two FIRs in Lahore and Karachi against the party leadership. Both reports carried the same charges, i.e. sections 420 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
Arrest warrants out for party leaders Saifullah Nyazee, Amir Kayani, others
The FIR lodged in Lahore accused Arif Naqvi, Tariq Shafi, Zaman Khan, Manzoor Ahmed Chaudhry, Mubashir Ahmed, the management of Habib Bank Limited and the PTI leadership of fraud.
The one registered in Karachi pointed out that Mr Naqvi was a major beneficiary of foreign funding and received foreign telegraphic transfers (FTTs) from Abraaj Investment Management Limited, Aman Foundation, Gray Mackenzie Holdings, Silver Line Holdings, and Strelizia ATF Aman.
Sources said Mr Khan had been summoned after an investigation team found that Mr Shafi transferred Rs562 million from Karachi to the United Bank Limited’s (UBL) Jinnah Avenue branch in Islamabad in a PTI account to which Mr Khan was a signatory.
In an FIR registered earlier this month by the FIA’s Commercial Bank Circle in Islamabad, the investigation agency said: “The PTI submitted an affidavit of [Abraaj founder] Arif Masood Naqvi before the Election Commission of Pakistan stating therein that all the amounts collected in the accounts of WCL (Wootton Cricket Limited) were submitted into PTI’s account in Pakistan … [the] affidavit has been proved to be false/forged as two more transactions were also made from WCL to two different accounts in Pakistan in May 2013.”
The FIR also mentioned the UBL for its alleged failure to report suspicious transactions to authorities.
“Chaudhary Shahid Bashir, the operations manager of UBL’s Jinnah Avenue branch in Islamabad, facilitated these suspicious/illegal transactions by not reporting the aforesaid illegalities to the authorities concerned and also allowed internet merchant acquiring agreement changing the title of the account to Naya Pakistan,” it added.
The FIR lodged in Islamabad contained sections 420, 468, 471, 477-A, and 109 of the PPC, read with sections 5 and 23 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act of 1947.
According to the FIR, the Abraaj owner transferred over $2.12 million of his “ill-gotten” money to a PTI bank account, whose signatories included Imran Khan and Saifullah Nyazee, among other party leaders.
Sources said the FIA also obtained arrest warrants for Mr Nyazee, Amir Kayani and four others in that FIR.
Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2022
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