Rejection of a request by the PTI to prevent FIA action in a financing case.
The hearing was postponed till January 10 due to the larger IHC bench’s decision.
ISLAMABAD: On Tuesday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) requested that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issue directives prohibiting the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from initiating action against its members in light of the ECP decision in the foreign funding case.
The lawsuit brought by the PTI contesting the ECP’s ruling was heard by a larger bench presided over Pakistan Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and including Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Baber Sattar.
Anwar Mansoor, a PTI attorney, argued in written submissions before the court during the hearing that the ECP lacked authority to refer the case to the federal government.
He claimed that the federal government had received a request from the ECP to dissolve the party. He continued by saying that it was also unlawful to begin proceedings on the basis of the ECP ruling.
The attorney further clarified the distinction between “foreign aid” and illegal money. In addition to the scores of FIRs filed by the FIA, he claimed that after the ECP’s decision, “over 185 cases have been started against the party.”
He claimed that submitting the case to the Supreme Court required substantial proof that the foreign funds violated the nation’s integrity.
He requested that the case be heard in court every day. The IHC CJ added that the electoral watchdog could seize the monies when the ECP determined that foreign funds had been received by the party as determined.
The national exchequer might likewise get any such funds, he added.
Justice Aurangzeb pointed out that the ECP’s ruling made no mention of the fact that the PTI’s acceptance of foreign funding violated Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity.
Regarding the PTI’s worries that a referral would be made to the Supreme Court, the court stated that no such action has been taken against the party. The federal government has not yet sent any references in opposition to it.
It further stated that a different method existed for the government to move forward with it if they so choose. You have simply been given a show-cause notice so far, to which you must respond with your defence.
The panel then dismissed the PTI’s appeal to halt the FIA’s investigation, stating that it was a distinct matter.
After that, the case was postponed until January 10.
It should be noted that the PTI received a show-cause notice from the ECP after evidence of prohibited funding was presented against it. Before the IHC, the PTI had contested the ruling.
