By: Asem Mustafa Awan
The relief has come for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf and as portrayed by the political pundits that the party will be banned from the national mainstream on the foreign funding investigations in now linked with the hearing of the other political parties namely Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.
Islamabad High Court quashed the single-bench order of directing the Election Commission of Pakistan in deciding the PTI’s case in 30 days.The two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Babar Sattar heard the intra-court appeal against the decision of the PTI in the foreign funding case. Shah Khawar, PTI lawyer, argued before the apex court that the case was not about foreign funding but illicit funding.
The PTI counsel drew the attention of the bench to some points contained in his petition and the decision of the single bench. Chief Justice Athar Minallah said the 2002 Act states that if there is any prohibited funding, it will be confiscated.
The scrutiny committee has termed the information of plaintiff Akbar S. Babar unverified. PTI lawyer told the apex court that PTI has filed a case of funding of other political parties, on which the court inquired whether the accounts of other political parties were not being investigated and what is the their cases are being heard at very slow pace.
The Election Commission is only singling out PTI and the party has protested the election commissioner and his conduct.
In 2014, Akbar S. Babar, a deviant member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), filed a petition with the Election Commission against the party’s internal financial irregularities, alleging the party had received funds from illicit sources and allegedly from two offshore companies.
Under Article 13 of the Political Parties Order 2002, political parties are required to submit an audit report of bank accounts to the Election Commission within 60 days from the end of the financial year, including annual income and expenditure, sources of funds and assets. In addition, the party chief is authorized to submit a certificate to the Election Commission acknowledging that all financial details have been provided correctly.
Under Article (15) of the Political Parties Order 2002, Federal Government may issue a declaration of dissolution of any political party, established with foreign funds or its purpose is to destabilize the sovereignty of Pakistan.
Foreign funding and illicit funding are two separate issues. The hearing of the case against PTI in the Election Commission has been going on for seven years.
PTI lawyers are appealing to the Islamabad High Court that the foreign funding cases against PML-N, PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam are suffering from unnecessary delay and they should also be heard at the same time to execute fairness.
The Election Commission ensures that candidates meet the criteria set out in the constitution for public representation. The same attitude towards all parties on foreign funding can improve the reputation of the organization. PTI is the most popular party in the country. Political manipulation or interference, however, forced the PTI to relinquish power. The manner in which the party was ousted left a lot to be desired and it was found to lack moral grounds.
