Paramilitary soldiers stand guard outside the Pakistan's election commission building in Islamabad. — AFP/File
ISLAMABAD: The PTI on Tuesday sought two weeks' time from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to respond to notices received in the prohibited funding case, a request that was accepted.
A four-member bench, headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, held a hearing on a notice served to PTI chairman Imran Khan in the case.
Owing to his schedule, PTI’s lawyer Shah Khawar did not appear at the hearing. However, the party’s assistant lawyer Naveed Anjum represented the party in the hearing.
He said that there are several documents in the case which he has to gather which requires time. The lawyer then sought two weeks from the commission to submit a detailed response to the notice.
In response to the request, the CEC asked PTI’s lawyer why he has to collect the documents when he already possesses them, as he had been part of the entire process.
Anjum responded by saying that the party is collecting documents from foreign chapters.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till September 6, after PTI’s request for extra time was approved by the commission.
A voter at a PTI camp outside a polling station during the NA-245 by-poll. — NNI
Unofficial results from 263 polling stations show PTI's Mehmood Maulvi emerged victorious in NA-245 by-poll.
MQM-P's Mueed Anwar comes in second place with 13,193 votes.
In 2018, PTI's Aamir Liaquat beat Dr Farooq Sattar after securing 56,673 votes.
KARACHI: PTI has retained the NA-245 seat of Karachi on Sunday in the by-poll held for the election of the constituency’s new lawmaker after the seat fell vacant following the death of Aamir Liaquat Hussain, who was elected on a PTI ticket in 2018.
The polling process started at 8am and continued till 5pm today (Sunday). However, the polling time was extended by an hour at Polling Stations 55, 143 and 144.
Aamir Liaquat beat Dr Farooq Sattar in 2018 after securing 56,673 votes.
Unofficial results from 263 polling stations showed PTI's Mehmood Maulvi secured the seat with 29,475 votes.
MQM-P's Mueed Anwar was in second with 13,193 votes, TLP's Muhammed Ahmed Raza secured 9,836 votes, Farooq Sattar bagged 3,479 votes and MQM-H came last with 1,177 votes.
As per the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) the voter turnout was 11.8% in the by-poll.
The polling for the by-poll was held amid strict security on the 263 polling stations. Out of the 263, 60 were declared sensitive and 203 most sensitive.
The by-poll in this constituency was scheduled for July 27, however, the ECP postponed the election owing to the lashing rains in the metropolis.
PTI leader Ali Zaidi said that results showed who the people of Karachi are supporting.
“This was a difficult contest due to the rains. The whole city is destroyed yet people came out to vote,” said the PTI leader.
ISLAMABAD: A larger bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plea today against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in the prohibited funding case, ARY News reported on Thursday.
According to details, the larger bench – which will be headed by IHC Acting Chief Justice Aamir Farooq – includes Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Babar Sattar.
The larger bench will hear the PTI’s petition against the ECP verdict at 2 pm.
In the last hearing, the Islamabad High Court had decided to form a larger bench to hear the PTI’s plea against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) judgement in the prohibited funding case.
PTI’s lawyer Anwar Mansoor argued that the accounts’ information, which were provided, was not included in the electoral watchdog’s verdict. “We had told ECP that some accounts’ information was not necessary due to some reasons,” he added.
“A larger bench will take up the matter,” Justice Farooq remarked. Subsequently, the court fixed the matter before a larger bench and adjourned the hearing for August 18.
The ECP bench in its reserved verdict said prohibited funding against PTI had been proven.
ECP, in its unanimous verdict, ruled that the party received funds from business tycoon Arif Naqvi and from 34 foreign nationals.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi announced the reserved verdict.
ISLAMABAD: The FIA in a letter to PTI chairman Imran Khan has sought details of the party funds and accounts record, ARY News reported on Saturday.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in a letter to the former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan, asked to submit the record of the party’s national and internationally registered organizations since 1996, when it was established.
The FIA has also sought details of the funds and accounts, the letter read. The investigation agency has also sought details of foreign currency accounts and funds received from foreign donors who donated to the party.
“The party should submit its audit reports of the party funds within two weeks”, federal agency demanded. “The PTI should also submit the list of the names of the party’s donors and the properties donated to the PTI,” the FIA demanded in letter.
“The names of the all office holders and their nationality should also be submitted. All record of the party since it was established in 1996 till 2022 to be submitted,” the FIA said in its letter.
The investigation agency has opened inquiries simultaneously in major cities of Pakistan, including federal capital Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi.
According to details, the FIA has constituted five investigation teams to collect data and record statements in Islamabad and other four provinces.
Deputy Director Amna Baig will head the probe team in the federal capital, which includes Ajmal Siddique, Sardarullah Babar, Asghar Ali Baloch, Rehana Kausar, and Arbab Abbasi.
A four-member probe team in Balochistan, a five-member team in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), a five-member probe team in Sindh Zone One and a probe team in Punjab Zone has been constituted.
The ECP bench in its verdict said prohibited funding against PTI had been proven and ruled that the party received funds from business tycoon Arif Naqvi and from 34 foreign nationals.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi announced the reserved verdict.
Hamza Shahbaz says nation will hold declared Sadiq and Ameen [Imran Khan] accountable for calling others, thieves and robbers.
Former CM states elections will be held as per schedule in 2023.
Hamza comments on Punjab CM elections, says will seek justice from court.
LONDON: Former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shahbaz Saturday said all coalition government parties have unanimously decided to take PTI’s prohibited funding case to its "logical conclusion".
Speaking to journalists after meeting party supremo Nawaz Sharif, Hamza said: “The nation will hold declared Sadiq and Ameen [Imran Khan] accountable for calling others, thieves and robbers.”
“If Nawaz was disqualified for not taking salary from his son then Khan is immersed in prohibited funding from head to toe,” he added.
Regarding PTI’s demand for snap polls, Hamza stated that elections will be held as per schedule in 2023, adding that he is hopeful that his uncle will lead the election campaign of his party.
The PML-N leader, while commenting on Punjab CM’s election, said that they will not leave this matter like this and will seek justice from the court.
“When a full court will be formed in this matter then the case will be crystal clear,” he added.
Hamza had to quit the office of CM after the Supreme Court gave its verdict on the PTI petition against the deputy speaker's ruling. Pervez Elahi of the PML-Q replaced him as Punjab CM due to the verdict.
Hamza arrived in London on a private visit on Friday and is expected to stay in the British capital for a few days. During his stay in London, the former chief minister met party supremo, Nawaz Sharif, who is there since 2019 and other family members.
LOWER DIR: PTI’s member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly Malik Liaquat Ali Khan on Saturday was critically injured in a targeted attack in the Maidan Gul area of Lower Dir District.
The MPA was travelling to his home hometown Nagotal when he came under attack.
Khan is now being shifted to a hospital in Peshawar. He, along with other injured in the attack, were taken to the District Headquarter Hospital (DHQ) in Timergara soon after the attack.
Four people including one policeman and one levies official were also martyred in the attack by unidentified gunmen.
According to police, those killed in the attack include the brother and nephew of Malik Liaquat. Police added that three more people including the MPA are currently injured.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has taken strict notice of the attack, and ordered the IG to arrest the culprits.
Condemning the incident, the chief minister termed it a cowardly act and said that the culprits cannot escape from the law.
"The people involved in the incident will be arrested and brought to justice," vowed the CM.
CM Mahmood also wished for the speedy recovery of the MPA and other people who got injured. While he expressed condolences to the families of the martyred police and levies personnel.
PTI supporters attend a rally in Charsadda. — AFP/File
ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday announced that the party will organise a public gathering in the federal capital on the eve of Pakistan’s 75th independence day.
The decision was taken during a party meeting presided by PTI chief Imran Khan.
Taking to Twitter, Fawad Chaudhry shared that the party will hold a gathering at the Parade Ground Islamabad where Khan will announce the party’s future strategy.
“Imported government is running from elections, but the nation will not let them get away. On August 13, Pakistan will gather in parade Ground alongside Imran Khan,” he tweeted, urging party workers to prepare for the last leg.
“Election or revolution,” tweeted the former minister.
Sources mentioned that former premier presided a meeting of PTI’s political committee in which the country’s current situation was also under discussion, in addition to reviewing legal issues regarding Khan contesting the by-elections in nine constituencies across Pakistan.
Briefing on the party’s legal strategy regrading resignations of PTI members in the assembly was also conducted. PTI’s legal team informed party members about the progress of applications in the courts.
PTI trying to hide wrongdoings: Interior Minister
Speaking in Geo News show Naya Pakistan, Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah commented on PTI’s plans to gather workers and supporters in Islamabad.
“They are allowed to gather at Parade Ground and were granted permission earlier as well,” the minister said, adding that the party is using the jalsa to hide its wrongdoings.
Talking about the party’s plan to attract crowds in the federal capital, the interior minister maintained that the government will not be threatened by the party.
He added that the foreign funding verdict has exposed Khan in front of the nation and that PTI is not sincere about the elections.
“Their lies have now been caught,” he said, criticizing Khan and his party for misleading the youth.
ISLAMABAD: During a meeting with the leadership of the ruling coalition, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday directed political parties to file a Supreme Court reference against PTI within 48 hours.
According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who presided the meeting in which the PML-N supremo urged that the SC be requested to have a full court hear the reference.
Nawaz added that those who create instability following the agenda of anti-national elements should receive no concession. He alleged that PTI chief Imran Khan is directly involved in CPEC’s rollback and selling Kashmir.
He asked coalition partners to take action against Khan's PTI following Election Commission of Pakistan's verdict in the foreign funding case, in which it declared the party to have received prohibited funds of foreign origin. The written verdict also stated that the PTI getting funds from some of the sources is also a violation of Pakistan's law.
Also present during the meeting, Qaumi Watan Party Chief Aftab Khan Sherpao said that the coalition government must now perform and control the increasing inflation.
Coalition parties decided to hold take to the streets against PTI across Pakistan. MQM will organise demonstrations in Karachi, while Hyderabad and Sukkur will be taken care of by the PPP.
During the meeting, it was also decided that PML-N will hold rallies against Khan’s party in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. While those in Peshawar will be held by JUI and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), and BNP Mengal will organise rallies in Quetta.
A representational image of the Election Commission of Pakistan building. — Facebook/File
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday ruled that the Imran Khan-led PTI received funds from prohibited sources and issued a show-cause notice, asking the party to explain why its funds shouldn't be frozen.
So what happens when a party is issued a show-cause notice?
ECP sources said that the body issues show-cause notices to a party under the Political Party Order, 2002, and gives it a chance to explain itself and present its case. Through the move, the party gets a chance to come clean before its assets are frozen.
The party usually has 7-14 days to submit its response before the ECP.
In case the party has documented evidence that it has not committed illegal acts, it has the chance to present those documents before the election commission, the sources said.
If the party, according to sources, successfully persuades the election commission, through the documents, that it has not received prohibited funding, the ECP can reverse its ruling.
But if the ECP is not convinced, it will send a reference to the federal government — which will then pursue the case. The federal government, through investigation, will determine whether the donations fall under the category of foreign funding or prohibited funding.
If the government finds the reference to be authentic, then it has the authority to confiscate party funds or dissolve it.
Moreover, when the prohibited funds are confiscated, a declaration to dissolve the party will be sent to the Supreme Court.
The final authority lies with the apex court whether to approve or reject the declaration of the party's dissolution.
If the Supreme Court approves the declaration, the party is dissolved and its members in the National and Provincial Assemblies are unseated.
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday announced the much-awaited verdict in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ‘prohibited’ funding case tomorrow (Tuesday), ARY News reported.
The ECP bench in its reserved verdict said prohibited funding against PTI has been proven.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi announced the reserved verdict.
The ECP in its verdict said PTI received funding from 34 foreign nations and the details of 13 accounts were not disclosed.
The ECP also declared the statement on oath of former prime minister Imran Khan as ‘wrong’ and issued show cause notice to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
The case was filed by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar and was pending since November 14, 2014. Babar had alleged serious financial irregularities in the party’s funding from Pakistan and abroad.
The development comes days after the ruling alliance, comprising members of the Pakistan Democratic Movement, PPP, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, urged ECP to release the verdict in the case.
PTI foreign funding case
The Election Commission of Pakistan had reserved its verdict after the conclusion of arguments from both sides of the case on June 21.
It is noteworthy that PTI foreign funding is being heard by the election commission since November 2014.
PTI founding member and former information secretary Akbar S Babar had filed the case in the ECP in November 2014, alleging financial irregularities in PTI’s foreign funding and that it received funds from prohibited sources.
The PTI has rejected the charges as baseless and unfounded.
British Journalist Simon Clark explained his Financial Times story on the PTI's foreign funding.
Says the people who donated for a charity match didn't know where their money is headed.
Says under Pakistan's law no company can bankroll a political party but Abraaj did.
British Journalist Simon Clark of the Financial Times, who reported on the foreign funding of the PTI, has said that the people who donated for the charity cricket match did not know that their money was being used to fund a political party’s election campaign in Pakistan.
Talking during Geo News' programme, "Aaj Shazaib Khanzada Kay Sath" on Monday, Clark said: "When I told them about [their money going to] the PTI, they were astonished."
He said the guests at the chairty match knew that their money would be spent on "philanthropic ventures" but they did not know precisely which charity organisation or activity the match was raising funds for.
The British journalist said the PTI admitted that Arif Naqvi's company, Wootton Cricket Limited, sent $2.1 million to it. Of the total, $1.3 milion came from Naqvi's Abraaj Enterprise. "The overseas Pakistani citizens did not send this money," he explained.
He said that Sheikh [Mohamed bin Zayed] Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates donated $2 million to the Wootton Cricket, adding that Naqvi and his associates, in Abraaj emails, could be seen talking about sending $1.2 million out of $2 million to the PTI, while mentioning that the money was sent by a sheikh of the Abu Dhabi's royal family. The money was transferred to Pakistan via the bank account of Tariq Shaif and Insaf Trust.
It was clearly mentioned in the Abraaj emails that the money was meant for the PTI, Clark said. But the PTI denied that, saying it was not aware that Sheikh Al Nahyan provided funding for the party’s election campaign.
The investigative reporter said it was possible that the money collected in Wootton was used for some other purposes other than philanthropic ones.
He noted that under Pakistani law, no company is permitted to bankroll political parties.
"Secondly, as far as I know, Sheikh Al Nahyan is not a Pakistani citizen. And Naqvi sent $1.2 million from his money to Pakistan for the PTI. My story elaborates that the donations collected through a cricket match under the Wootton Cricket's events were channeled to the PTI by Abraaj," he said.
Clark said he had been investigating the matter for the last four-and-a-half years.
"[During this time], I have not come across evidence of any conspiracy against Naqvi. Instead, I have seen immense evidence of financial irregularities in Abraaj."
"I have presented these facts before my friends and have written a book on it. As a journalist, I am supposed to unearth the truth. There are multiple criminal and civil cases against Abraaj in the US. Dubai's financial regulators fined Abraaj. I have been a financial journalist for 22 years but I have not noticed a similar situation in any company."
Clark added that Abraaj was an investment company but Naqvi also used it to fund charitable activities.
"But Abraaj faced problems owing to investment. This was the reason for cases against Naqvi in the US. Abraaj collected funds from investors for investment purposes and possessed funds worth one billion dollars for building hospitals. Abraaj received money from different investors, and organisations, including the Bill Gates Foundation. That aside, the firm received funds from the US, British, and French governments as well."
"The Abraaj executives, however, spent this money on other expenditures like salaries and bonuses. I have complete documentary evidence regarding this," Clark asserted.
Following the verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to instate PTI's candidate Pervez Elahi as the chief minister of Punjab, the party's senior vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that "today, the Constitution's rule has been accepted and the Pakistani people's mandate has been respected".
"On July 17, the people of Pakistan accepted Imran Khan's narrative wholeheartedly and we reject this imported government," the ex-foreign minister said in a press conference.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court today declared Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari's ruling in the Punjab Chief Minister election "illegal" and ruled that Pervez Elahi will be the new CM of the province.
The Supreme Court's short order declared Pervez Elahi as the duly elected chief minister of Punjab as it ruled that he had obtained 186 votes compared to Hamza's 179.
The order also declared that the oath of office administered to Hamza was "without lawful authority and of no legal effect".
Berating the deputy speaker's ruling, Qureshi said Mazari "trampled the Constitution and did not follow the principles", adding that he did not care about the law.
He said that the judiciary tolerated the criticism with patience and fulfilled its responsibility. "The coalition government tried to employ delaying tactics to intimidate the judiciary."
Qureshi said that the decision has proved that Pakistan's judiciary is independent.
Former minister for planning and development Asad Umar said that Pakistan's politics has taken a new direction.
"There was a foreign conspiracy, however, Imran Khan did not bow before anyone or tolerate anyone's dictation," he said.
PTI's Senator Faisal Javed termed the decision as Imran Khan's victory and said that the decision was according to the law and Constitution, adding that the party wants the general elections to be announced immediately.
LAHORE: Anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday extended interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in vandalism case during the Long March on May 25, ARY News reported.
The court was upset over the lack of investigation involving several PTI leaders in the Long March vandalism case.
According to details, anti-terrorism court in Lahore heard the interim bail applications of PTI leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Hammad Azhar and others.
The ATC expressed its displeasure at the lack of investigation involving Zubair Niazi, Sheikh Imtiaz, Mian Akram Usman and Azeem Afzal and ordered an immediate investigation of the said accused, upon which the statements of Zubair Khan Niazi and others were immediately recorded.
During the hearing, the court directed the investigating officer to record the statements of the accused outside the court, and adjourned the hearing for some time while calling the lawyers of the accused for arguments.
Among the PTI leaders, Hammad Azhar, Yasmin Rashid, Aslam Iqbal, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Musarat Cheema, Shafqat Mehmood, Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Andalib Abbas, Murad Ras, Yasir Gilani and Zubair Niazi and others appeared.
On behalf of the accused, Burhan Muazzam Advocate sought time for arguments after which ATC extended the interim bail of PTI leaders till August 5.
The court rejected the interim bail plea of Ejaz Chaudhry for his non-appearance.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers protested across the country late Friday night against the ruling of the Punjab Assembly's deputy speaker that helped Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) candidate to retain his chief ministership of the province.
Disappointed with what happened during the run-off election in the provincial assembly's session on Friday, Chairman PTI Imran Khan gave the protest call in his late-night speech. The PTI chief said he was "in a state of shock" to see the incidents in the Punjab Assembly during the run-off election.
Imran Khan said that Article 63A of the Constitution states that it is the head of the parliamentary party, whose decision is binding on the members to vote.
Responding to his call, the PTI workers took to roads and streets in different cities and staged protest demonstrations. The PTI activists and supporters gathered in Islamabad at D Chowk and F9 Park and Lahore's Liberty Chowk and Karachi's Shahra-e-Faisal.
The demonstration of the PTI workers caused massive traffic jams from the nursery to the Baloch Colony Bridge owing to the road closure. The protest demonstrations were staged in other areas of the metropolis including Teen Talwar.
Peshawar's Hashtnagari also witnessed protests where the PTI workers set tires on fire to block the road for traffic. They raised slogans against the election of the Chief Minister of Punjab.
Protest rallies were also taken out at Chandni Chowk in Rawalpindi, Manan Chowk in Quetta, Ghanta Ghar Chowk in Faisalabad and Sialkot. Similar protests were held in other cities including Gujranwala, Gujrat, Faisalabad and Multan.
In Hyderabad, the situation turned volatile when the workers of the PPP and PTI came face to face while shouting out slogans at Hyder Chowk. Police resorted to baton-charge to break up the confrontation.
Friday's Dramatic PA session
In Friday's dramatic session of the Punjab Assembly, Mazari announced the win for Hamza Shahbaz. After waving a letter from PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who disallowed the party's members to take part in the vote, he cited Article 63A of the Constitution and rejected ten votes cast by PML-Q lawmakers.
The deputy speaker's ruling frustrated the bid of Pervez Elahi to become the Punjab CM. He was the PTI's candidate for the chief ministership. Having bagged 186 votes against Hamza's 179, Elahi lost the contest as his own party's ten votes were declared invalid.
Challenging the deputy speaker's ruling, PTI leader Raja Basharat said Shujaat is not authorised to take such a decision for his party under Article 63A as Sajid Bhatti is PML-Q's parliamentary leader.
The PTI's workers gather at the SC's Lahore Registry late Friday night. Photo: Twitter
The leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have moved the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the ruling of the Punjab Assembly's deputy speaker that paved the way for Hamza Shahbaz to retain his post of the chief minister of the province.
The PTI and PML-Q leaders reached the SC's Lahore Registry late Friday and filed a petition against the ruling of Punjab Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari.
In Friday's dramatic session of the Punjab Assembly, Mazari announced the win for Hamza Shahbaz. After waving a letter from PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who disallowed the party's members to take part in the vote, he cited Article 63A of the Constitution and rejected ten votes cast by PML-Q lawmakers.
The deputy speaker's ruling frustrated the bid of Pervez Elahi to become the Punjab CM. He was the PTI's candidate for the chief ministership. Having bagged 186 votes against Hamza's 179, Elahi lost the contest as his own party's ten votes were declared invalid.
Challenging the deputy speaker's ruling, PTI leader Raja Basharat said Shujaat is not authorised to take such a decision for his party under Article 63A as Sajid Bhatti is PML-Q's parliamentary leader.
Following the election, the PTI's and PML-Q's parliamentary parties discussed Mazari’s ruling and decided to challenge it in court the same day. Later, they reached the apex court's Lahore registry and submitted their petition.
Earlier, Deputy registrar SC Lahore registry Ijaz Goraya reached the court and received their application.
