The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) the last chance to submit its response to the show-cause notice in the prohibited funding case by August 22, JEE News reported on Saturday.
The development came after the PTI sought more time from the Election Commission to file its reply in the case.
The ECP also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the party and warned that if the reply was not submitted on the due date, the matter would be decided on the basis of available records.
In its order, the commission expressed displeasure and reminded PTI’s counsel that the matter is pending since August 2, 2022 and more than 12 hearings have been held while instructions have been issued to the counsel on the date of each hearing. The respondent party to submit a reply to the show cause notice dated 5th August 2023.
“Sikander Sultan Raja, Chairman, Saqlain Haider Awan, AHC, appeared before the Commission and submitted his ‘Wakalat Nama’ along with the second interim reply to the notice dated 5th August 2023 which has been taken on record. He gave a detailed reply. More time has been sought for submission,” the order said.
The order further stated: “On the last date of hearing, one month’s time was given by the Commission on the personal commitment of Anwar Mansoor Khan, Sr. ASC and clearly stated In case of failure, the right to file a reply will be barred and the matter will be decided in accordance with law. However, despite the clear determination and order, the detailed reply is not submitted and further adjournment is sought. Anwar Mansoor Khan is also not present due to illness. The defendant party is using delaying tactics to avoid the matter.”
The electoral body ordered the respondents to deposit a fine of Rs 50,000, which would be “disbursed to [an] orphanage”.
The hearing of the matter is adjourned till 22nd August 2023 for submission of final reply to the show cause notice and in case of failure the right to file the reply will be barred and the matter will be decided in the presence of available record. Order finished.
In its August 8 order, the election body had said that the PTI was using delaying tactics to delay the issue.
On August 9, CEC Raja responded to PTI lawyers’ request for more time, saying: “Last chance means last chance. But your response schedule seems to be eight years, (indirectly A reference to the PTI foreign funding case, which was filed in November 2014 and the judgment came in August last year.) What should the Commission do with its order?
On August 2 last year, a five-member bench of the commission had issued a show-cause notice to the party through its chairman under the Political Parties Order 2002 to present its case.
The hearing of the matter is adjourned till 22nd August 2023 for submission of final reply to the show cause notice and in case of failure the right to file the reply will be barred and the matter will be decided in the presence of available record. The order of the commission said.
