The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the verdict of the prohibited funding case after eight years, ruling that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had received prohibited funding while it kept 13 bank accounts hidden.
ECP has said in a statement that PTI had taken donations from 34 foreign nationals and 351 foreign-based companies. It also said that PTI did not provide details of 13 unknown accounts and the funds availed through Wootton have been declared prohibited. Election Commission in its decision also said that Imran khan’s declaration was not correct. It said that the Form-1 deposited by Imran Khan was inaccurate.
The ECP has also said that the declaration on Form-1 submitted by PTI Chairman Imran khan was inaccurate. The decision said that PTI had taken donations taken from USA, Australia and UAE. According to the decision, PTI also took funds from businessmen in USA.
The verdict had been reserved by the ECP on June 21. At the time there were ample security arrangements made in the Red Zone of Islamabad. More than 1000 police personnel and an anti-riot force were appointed.
The verdict added that hiding accounts was a violation of Article 17 of the Constitution and that the funds were also in violation of Article 6 of the Political Parties Act.
The electoral watchdog also ruled that the PTI had received funds from Arif Naqvi and from 34 foreign nationals. According to the decision, PTI took ownership of eight accounts whereas 13 accounts were kept hidden.
A show cause notice was decided to be served to PTI asking why its funds should not be seized.
The three-member ECP bench comprised Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi.
The case was filed by PTI’s founding member Akbar S Babar and was pending since November 14, 2014.
While talking to media on Tuesday, Akbar S Babar said that they were victorious in the battle of truth versus strength. He said that he had no personal benefit in the case rather the benefit would be to the politics of Pakistan.
He said that ECP has accepted that PTI received funding from foreign nationals and several certificates submitted by Imran Khan were fake. He claimed that the decision would be a step forward towards uprooting PTI’s fascism.
Details of the verdict [courtesy Election Commission of Pakistan]
The ECP declared the verdict on the prohibited funding case on the following basis.
According to ECP, as per Article-6(3) of PPO 2002, the commission has issued the show cause notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in terms of Rule-2 of PPR 2002 as to why the funds could not be confiscated.
The commission noted following accounts and included them into prohibited funding:
- Non-disclosure and concealment of 16 bank accounts by PTI was a serious lapse and in violation of Article 17(3) of the constitution.
Through submission before the commission, PTI had accepted ownership of eight accounts while 13 were declared unknown. However, these 13 accounts were opened and being operated by senior PTI leadership. PTI also failed to mention three accounts being operated by its senior leadership.
- The form-1 submitted by chairman PTI found to be inaccurate on the basis of financial statements from State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and other available material.
Details of accounts:
The commission was satisfied that PTI received contributions and donations from prohibited sources:
- Wootton Cricket Limited UAE $2,151,500
- Bristol Engineering Services Dubai $49,965
- E Planet Trustees $100,000
- S. Marketing $1,741
- LLC-6160 (donations and contributions) $549,000
- LLC-5975 (donations and contributions) $1,976,500
- PTI Canada Corporation $279,822
- Romita Shetty (Singapore) $12,750
Total Dollars $5,122,278
- Dunpec Pty Ltd Australia Rs504,250
- Anwar Brothers Rs78,000
- Zain Cotton Pvt. Ltd Rs10,000
- M/S Young Sports Rs97,500
- PTI Canada Corporation Rs3,581,186
- Amount in 13 accounts (11 unknown 2 not pertain) Rs215,787,718
Total Rupees Rs220,058,654
- PTI UK GBP 792,265
Note: (about No. 5 and No. 6): PTI USA LLC-6160 and PTI USA LLC-5975 was recipient of donations from 34 foreign nationals and 351 foreign based companies.
