ECP to take up PTI financial matters on 26th

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken notice of the financial matters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and fixed a case for hearing on November 26.

Notices have been issued to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and then Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan to appear in person before the Election Commission here at 10:00am concerning the ‘consolidated statement of accounts of PTI for the financial year 2023-24.

In this connection, the Election Commission has posted the cause list of the case, which was forwarded to its law Wing from the Political Finance Wing for necessary action.

“We have certain things to ‘sort out’ regarding PTI finances and want the party leadership to appear before the Election Commission,” a senior ECP official said while talking to this correspondent.

It may be recalled that the ECP had announced its decision on August 2, 2022 in the foreign funding case filed by PTI’s founding member and ex-information secretary Akbar S Babar on November 14, 2014. According to the decision, two American companies (PTI NA LLC 5975 & 6160) illegally collected $549,000 & $1,976,500 respectively in the name of PTI.

In addition, £792,265 was illegally received by one company from the UK alone. The formal proceedings to seize these funds and other illegal funding, worth more than $7 million, against the government began on August 5, 2022, when the Election Commission of Pakistan issued a show cause notice to the PTI.

During several appearances, PTI adopted delaying tactics due to which the proceedings could not be completed till date.

Babar has repeatedly demanded that according to the August 2, 2022 decision, the PTI leadership was found to be involved in serious financial irregularities against which delay in legal action is tantamount to putting national security at stake.

Commenting on the date fixed for ECP hearing in the PTI accounts, Babar claimed in the last fiscal year, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf entered into more than one lobbying contracts through companies in the name of PTI America.

Separately, the Election Commission has issued notification of the certificate containing the information with regard to conduct of intra-party elections of the National Party held on 29.10.2024.

The notification about the certificate has been issued in pursuance of Sections 208 & 209 (3) of the Elections Act, 2017 read with sub-rule (2) of Rule 158 of the Election Rules, 2017. Former senator Dr Abdul Malik has been notified as the president and Mir Kabir Ahmad as secretary general of the party.