PTI counsel completes arguments in foreign funding case

ISLAMABAD: Advocate Anwar Mansoor Khan, counsel for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Monday completed his arguments in PTI's foreign funding case.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Faisal Arab, heard the case.

It has been filed by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi, seeking disqualification of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Secretary General Jehangir Tareen on non-declaration of their offshore companies in nomination papers and running party affairs through foreign funding.

During the course of proceedings, the Chief Justice, addressing the PTI counsel, asked is it right whether all the information would be available on the relevant website. Anwar Mansoor replied that information about donations lesser than certain amount of dollars was not given on the said website.

Anwar Mansoor claimed that the law has no provision for the ECP to inquire into a party's funds once the financial details have been submitted and after they have been audited by a chartered accountancy firm.

He also submitted the trail of the London and Islamabad properties of Imran Khan.

Anwar Mansoor Khan said that bank accounts could not even be opened without having the legal authority. The CJP remarked

that as per law every political party is bound to submit its details of accounts before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

He also asked Mansoor Khan to elaborate the matter before the ECP when it comes up there.

Justice Faisal Arab asked Mansoor Khan if PTI has secured auditor's services.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked Mansoor Khan if his argument is accepted then who would ask questions from the auditor.

Anwar Mansoor replied that his only contention was that just a single political party should not be selected for this procedure.       The counsel of the ECP asked Anwar Mansoor to read the report, submitted by the commission which raised objections to his submissions.

When Justice Bandial said that the information about foreign funding would come from other sources, Anwar Mansoor said that the court could establish a commission over this issue. Upon this the Chief Justice asked why a commission should be formed when there is an institution.

When Anwar Mansoor said that private accounts of a political party could not be advertised, Justice Faisal Arab asked how a political party's accounts could be private ones.

He observed that every political party was answerable about its source of funding according to Article 17 (3) of the Constitution.

After the completion of Anwar Mansoor Khan's arguments, Akram Sheikh counsel for the petitioner initiated his arguments and said that the PTI has submitted wrong reports in the court.

They (PTI) prepared these documents themselves and none of the document in PTI's reply is correct, he added.

The Chief Justice remarked that the court would examine if PTI received prohibited funds.

Later, hearing of the case was adjourned till Tuesday.