ISLAMABAD, August 2(ABC): The PTI on Tuesday rejected the ruling of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that the party received prohibited funding.
The ECP, in a unanimous verdict, said the commission found that 34 foreign donations were taken in fundraising. The donations were taken from America, Australia, Canada, and the UAE.
In addition, PTI took funds from an American businessman, the ECP said.
Unknown accounts have also come to light, said the commission in its verdict, adding that hiding accounts are a “violation” of Article 17 of the Constitution.
The ECP also found that PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I and that the affidavit provided regarding party accounts was false.
The ECP has issued a show-cause notice to PTI.
Not ‘foreign funding’
In a press conference following the verdict, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said overseas Pakistanis raised funds for the PTI and the ECP had acknowledged their narrative that it does not come under “foreign funding”.
In the next phase, the PTI will prove that the 16 accounts are legal, adding that these accounts are “subsidiary accounts,” Chaudhry said.
“No party has the right to hide its funding from the people,” the PTI leader.
He demanded of the election body to announce its verdict in the funding case against PPP and PML-N after the PTI.
In a tweet later, the PTI leader said that since the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and ECP members have “weak” legal backgrounds, they failed to “differentiate between an affidavit and certificate”.