The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued a contempt notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and leaders Asad Umer and Chaudhry Fawad.
According to reports, the ECP ordered the PTI leaders to report themselves or via an attorney to the ECP to submit their answer to the notice on August 30.
Earlier on August 18, the ECP adjourned the hearing into disqualification reference against Imran Khan over the Toshakhana gifts scandal until August 22. A five-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the reference. Petitioner Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha and government lawyer Khalid Ishaq Advocate appeared before the ECP.
The assistant counsel of Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said he [Zafar] could not appear before due to a busy schedule, so the hearing should be adjourned. He also said that Imran Khan is no longer a member of the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) rejected Imran Khan’s position on the investigation into the PTI prohibited funding case.
According to reports, the FIA has decided to send Imran Khan another notice to seek answers regarding the prohibited funding case, while rejecting his current position. The ex-premier’s arrest warrants will be issued after three notices have been sent, said sources within the FIA.
Moreover, five more companies linked to the PTI have reportedly been identified.
The FIA had issued notices to the PTI chairman and general secretary to investigate the issue of prohibited funding, and has sought details of party funds’ record. Imran had previously stated that he is neither accountable nor obligated to provide information to the FIA.
Earlier, the federal agency sought records from Imran Khan regarding the total funds provided to the party by national and international companies and business firms. Following the ECP’s judgement that ruled the PTI received funding from prohibited sources, the FIA had launched a countrywide inquiry into the matter.
In a letter to the PTI chairman, the FIA had asked Imran to provide the record of the membership fee from the establishment of the PTI until now. It had also sought annual statements of the PTI’s bank accounts since 1996, the record of its registered and unregistered organisations and trusts from the party’s chief.
Imran Khan was also asked to provide the record of the PTI’s national and international donors. The FIA had also directed the PTI chairman to provide details of funds received from various companies in different countries separately. The agency had also sought the list of the party’s office-bearers, their CNICs and the names of those who were allowed to operate the party’s bank accounts. The investigation agency had directed Imran Khan to provide details of the board that is looking after the financial affairs of the party.
The party’s chairman and the general secretary were told to submit the details to the FIA within 15 days.
