PTI’s prohibited funding case: ECP explains rejection of cross examination plea

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) explained reasons for rejecting the Pakistan Tehre­ek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) application for cross-examination of witnesses and declared that the process for confiscation of prohibited funds received by the party has started. ECP stated in its detailed judgement released on Friday.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) applied to have witnesses including the relevant bank officials but ECP rejected the request saying that the process for seizing any prohibited funds received by the party had started. The reasons for this rejection were detailed in the judgment, which was released on Friday.

In its ruling, the ECP noted that granting the request for a cross-examination at this time would require restarting the whole case, which had been resolved in August of last year. It explained that the current actions being taken to carry out the conclusions from the previous year were seizing any payments or contributions that were illegal for the party to accept.

“Prayer for reopening or re-examination of the matter at this stage cannot be considered,” the detailed order stated. “The proceedings in terms of Rule 6 of the Political Parties Rules (PPR) 2002 is execution of findings recor­ded in terms of section 6 of the Political Parties Order, 2002 by the commission.

Additionally, the judgment said that the current proceedings under Rule 6 of the PPR only concerned the seizure of contributions or donations that the ECP had deemed to be “prohibited.” Rule 6 simply has two criteria: first, the party must be given notice; and second, the party must be given a chance to be heard. According to the order, both of these legal requirements have been satisfied in the current instance.

The ECP decided unanimously on August 2, 2022 that the PTI had accepted “prohibited” funds or contributions.