ISLAMABAD: In an unanimous verdict ECP announced that PTI had taken prohibited funding from foreign nationals and issued a show-cause notice to explain why funds should not be seized.

According to details a three-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja (and consisted of  Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi) announced the verdict apropos PTI’s Prohibited Funding Case at 10.30PM on Tuesday (2nd of August, 2022).

Most probably the recent story by The Financial Times  revealing how Arif Naqvi of Abraaj Group generated funds by means of a charity match played at Wooton Cricket Club and an Arab Sheikh, finally motivated the ECP to announce the judgement.

ECP has traced 34 foreign donations received (from USA, UAE and Australia) by means of  fundraising. Stating that PTI also took funds from an American businessman Arif Naqvi, While pointing out that hiding accounts was a violation of the Constitution, ECP announced  PTI kept 13 accounts hidden while taking ownership of 8 accounts.

ECP announced that PTI Chairman Imran Khan had submitted a misdeclaration/a fake Nomination Form I, with the Commission. It is pertinent to mention here that accepting the PTI’s plea ECP refereed the case as Prohibited Funding instead of Foreign Funding.

ECP, that did not announce the verdict of the 8-year-old case, was under pressure from PTI – that did not want the announcement of the  verdict reserved on 21st day of June, 2022 – and from others who wanted it to be made public.

PTI’s Ch. Fawad Hussain taking to the Twitter stated: “Both the Supreme Court and the High Court have decided that the Election Commission should decide the cases of the three parties, but the Election Commission is not bothering to look into the funding issues of the (PML-) Noon League and the People’s Party. Political decisions are not taken by the Election Commission but the People.”

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