ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (CP) has rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) application &- the cross-examination of key witnesses and decided to proceed with the show-cause notice in the foreign funding case.
A three-member bench, headed by4Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, resumed the hearing today and announced the verdict it reserved o)n December 20.
The ECP passed the judgement on August 2, 2022, documenting financial fraud and over $7 million of illegal funding, and issued a show cause to the PTI in August 2022 to justify why further legal action should not be taken against it for gross financial irregularities.
However, instead of responding to the show cause, the PTI had filed a fresh application seeking cross-examination of key witnesses.
The electoral body rejected the PTI’s request seeking a cross-examination of the scrutiny committee and the bank officers. Moreover, the objections raised by the party against CEC Raja’s show-cause notice were also dismiss
During the hearing, the chief election commissioner questioned the progress of the case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
“What was the IHC’s decision?” he asked.
At this, PTI lawyer Nadeem Amjad replied that the IHC had directed the ECP to hear the parties.
CEC Raja remarked that the Election Commission hasn’t been stopped from taking action. “Now let’s take this case forward,” he added.
He said that the PTI sought six weeks’ time for the arguments and action was taken on August 23, adding that over six months have passed now.
The CEC said time was sought to obtain records from abroad.
The PTI’s counsel filed a petition to postpone the hearing of the case for two weeks.
To which, the chief election commissioner replied that two weeks’ time cannot be given now.
The Election Commission adjourned the hearing till March 28.
