ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday filed two separate petitions in the Supreme Court, seeking directions to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to investigate receiving of foreign funding through prohibited sources by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).
The petitions were filed by PTI leaders Asad Umar and Shireen Mazari under Article 184 (3) of the constitution read with Article 2 and 6 of the Political Parties Order, 2002, along with Rule 6 of the Political Parties Rules 2002, making PPP through its Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PPPP through its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PML-N and Election Commission of Pakistan respondents in the case.
The petitions contended that the ruling PML-N and the PPP were foreign funded parties and both had received funds from prohibited sources.
The petitions claimed that the funds contributed to the party by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif were not mentioned in the details submitted by the PML-N to the ECP. It has been contended in the petitions that Nawaz Sharif had contributed Rs 100 million to the party in the head of funds, however he retrieved Rs 40 million later. Petitions claimed the PML-N and PPP have made funding agreements with private companies in the US, adding that the PPP also secured funds through the Pakistan embassy. The PTI is facing two cases – one before the SC and other in the ECP – pertaining to alleged receiving of foreign funds through prohibited sources.
Published in Daily Times, September 13th 2017.
