Akbar Babar hopes ECP will reserve verdict in PTI foreign funding case this month

Akbar S. Babar, petitioner in PTI foreign funding case, on Wednesday hoped that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would reserve its verdict in the case this month, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking to the media outside the ECP office in Islamabad following the case’s hearing, he accused the party of trying to misguide the election commission.  “PTI has dissociated itself from 11 of its bank accounts,” he said, and alleged that large amounts of money were laundered which merited inquiry.   

Earlier, a three-member bench of the ECP, led by the chief election commissioner, heard PTI’s counsel Anwar Mansoor’s arguments in the case who said that even the Pakistanis holding dual nationalities were considered Pakistani citizens. 

Mansoor was of the opinion that the scrutiny committee had made a wrong interpretation of section 6 of PPO. “Truth of the matter is that there is no bar under the PPO on a political party to receive funds from abroad,” he said, and added that the law on the basis of which the committee had compiled its report even did not exist.     

PTI’s counsel also made it clear that the party had not received funds from any Indian citizen.

He asserted that the party had disclosed all amounts it had received from abroad, and had never received even a penny from a ‘prohibited’ source. 

Later, the ECP adjourned hearing of the case until April 19. 

Reporter: Rozeena Ali