ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed PTI to submit its reply in foreign funding case by 6th of next month. The Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza while hearing the petition filed by founding member of PTI Akbar. S. Babar in Islamabad on Thursday held that Election Commission has the powers to scrutinize the accounts details of PTI. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to indefinitely postpone the hearing of his disqualification case.
Imran Khan’s counsel Shahid Gondal presented Supreme Court’s order of June 13 regarding the allegations of using prohibited sources before the commission, and took the stance that the apex court has listened to the arguments of ECP’s lawyer, and has indefinitely postponed the case against Imran that was filed by Akbar S Babar.
Shahid Gondal further added that the applications of Akbar S Babar and Hashim Ali Bhutta are of same nature, therefore, petition of Bhutta against Imran should also be indefinitely postponed. Hashim Ali Bhutta’s lawyer opposed the request made by Shahid Gondal, and stated that the petition of his client is totally different to that of Akbar S Babar’s.
CEC remarked that the commission is ready to indefinitely postpone the case, but Imran Khan should first submit his reply to make his stance clear that whether he accepts the allegations that have been levelled against him, or rejects them. ECP will then take its decision of postponing the case, said Sardar Raza. PTI chief’s lawyer requested the election commission to give his client some time to submit his answer. ECP accepted the request and gave him time till July 6 to provide the answer. INP