PM Shehbaz calls upon ECP to announce ruling on PTI ‘foreign funding’ case

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ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan to announce the “long-delayed” judgment on the PTI “foreign funding” case.

“For long has Imran Niazi been given a free pass despite his repeated and shameless attacks on state institutions. Impunity given to him has hurt the country,” said the premier.

His message comes after a drubbing by the PTI on Sunday in the by-elections on 20 constituencies of Punjab.

PTI secured victory on 15 seats, whereas PML-N only came away with four, unofficial results showed.

The ECP reserved the verdict in case nearly a month ago, on June 21, following a hearing by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sultan Raja.

The verdict was reserved after the completion of a briefing by the financial expert brought by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar.

Babar has alleged major irregularities in the party’s finances, including in funding from outside Pakistan.

ECP concluded the case after seven years of trial, which started in 2014, when Babar filed it. The date the verdict will be announced is yet to be revealed.