ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday granted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) one more month to respond to the show-cause notice for confiscation of prohibited funds. The ECP had announced last week that if the PTI failed to respond by June 6, it would take a decision on the matter based on available records. A three-member bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, resumed the hearing on the show. The notice was issued to PTI based on the commission’s decision on August 2 last year in the foreign funding case. The case was filed eight years ago by Akbar S. Babar, a founding member of PTI. The Election Commission adjourned the hearing till July 6 on the request of senior PTI lawyer Anwar Mansoor. The lawyer said that unknown persons have taken all the records from our office. On this, the Chief Election Commissioner said that the Election Commission has announced the decision of the important case. He said that if you want to challenge the decision, you can approach the relevant forum. PTI’s counsel said that the commission had given this order during the previous hearing. He said that the matter is very serious at the moment “because unknown people have taken away all the records from our office.”
He explained that the PTI offices are currently closed and the officials are absconding, and they are trying to get the relevant records. On this, Sindh Nisar Durrani, a member of the commission, said that the record is with you and with us. Anwar Mansoor said that he has also ordered more records from abroad. He said that in the absence of records, what should I discuss? The CEC clarified that the case now relates to confiscation of prohibited funding. The Election Commission has given a decision in an important case. If you want to challenge the decision based on facts, you can approach the relevant forum,” he said. The counsel said that he had already filed a preliminary reply to the notice. He requested more time to submit a detailed reply. The CEC said the case cannot be adjourned indefinitely.
He said that the companies which gave prohibited funding to PTI must be explained. We will make a decision if you tell us in writing that the records are not available. The lawyer, however, sought a month’s time to respond, citing the difficult time for the political party. CEC said that when you do politics in Pakistan, such situations keep happening. “There is no need to worry too much about it.” He allowed the request and gave another four weeks to submit the reply.
