ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of PTI foreign funding case to Feb 9 after PTI lawyer Anwar Mansoor Khan sought an adjournment on his health grounds.

Mr Khan told the bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, that he was ill and could not argue the case.

The petitioner and PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar’s lawyer Syed Ahmad Hassan Shah complained about the delay in sharing documents kept secret by the scrutiny committee despite clear instructions of the ECP on January 18. He said that despite the application seeking documents filed on Jan 20, the DG of Law allowed sharing of documents on Jan 31.

Mr Shah said that such delays by DG of Law were endemic during the scrutiny process.

The CEC then asked the petitioner to narrate the matter. Mr Babar then complained of undue delays in accessing the documents on the scheduled date of January 31.

The CEC then announced that from now on the ECP secretary would be responsible for all the documents related to the case.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Syed Ahmad Hassan Shah, wanted to commence arguing the case with regard to the scrutiny committee’s report shared on Jan 4 with the petitioner.

Before he could do so, the CEC deferred arguments on the request of the PTI lawyer who requested an adjournment of the case on the ground of his ill health.

Talking to reporters outside the ECP, Mr Babar welcomed the ECP move to end secrecy in the case, adding that such decisions would bring transparency and allow facts to emerge.

He said the case would be a turning point in the country’s history as it would be a giant leap to institutionalise political parties which were real nurseries of the leadership, if regulated under the law.

Mr Babar criticised PM Imran Khan for breaching the trust of the people, adding that the Transparency International report rating Pakistan among the most corrupt countries of the world was an indictment against the PM and his government.

In reply to a question about PTI’s new application seeking removal of PM from the scrutiny process, he said the demand was a reflection of the panic that has set in PTI’s ranks after the ECP decision to end secrecy.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.