News Analysis |
After a long-standing tiff with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf submitted details of its accounts and foreign funding received in the past seven years on Monday to the ECP.
The ECP, miffed at the continued defiance of its orders, gave PTI yet another chance to submit its particulars by today, which it did. The ECP had also issued an arrest warrant of Imran Khan besides writing a letter to Islamabad Police to arrest Khan due to his constant absence from contempt of court petition in the ECP.
The ECP Â bench asked the counsel as to whether the financial records were the same as those which the party had submitted in the Supreme Court, the counsel Faisal Chaudhry replied saying that there were some additional documents attached as well.
This contributed significantly towards PTI’s submission as Khan can ill-afford to take any chances with the ECP especially when PM Abbasi also said that directives to arrest him will be implemented. Khan would like to focus on fine-tuning his political strategy as elections and electioneering are fast-approaching.
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PTI however, requested the ECP not to show details of party accounts to the petitioner, Akbar S Babar, who filed the petition in 2014 following his breakaway from PTI. The chief election commissioner said that according to the Lahore High Court, the details should be published online. He also ordained the counsel to verify these documents.
The ECP bench asked the counsel as to whether the financial records were the same as those which the party had submitted in the Supreme Court, the counsel Faisal Chaudhry replied saying that there were some additional documents attached as well.
Khan has accused the ECP of being under influence of the Sharif family. Such assertions were also made in and during the electioneering process of NA-120. The ECP has been blamed for batting for the ruling party by ignoring many unlawful acts during the campaign.
The chief election commissioner was irked when PTI’s counsel, Saqlain Haider asked for a receipt to confirm submission. He said: “Was the responsibility to submit this record ours or yours?”
In its last hearing, the ECP had categorically said that PTI will be given one last chance to furnish all records. Instead of responding to previous ECP pleas, Khan accused the ECP of being biased against him, something which triggered another case against him in the top elections body.
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Khan has accused the ECP of being under influence of the Sharif family. Such assertions were also made in and during the electioneering process of NA-120. The ECP has been blamed for batting for the ruling party by ignoring many unlawful acts during the campaign.
However, the submission of the documents will help PTI to quell criticism over this so-called cat and mouse game. The submission will also help the party and its chairman come clean at a time when they can ill-afford even a slight slip-up. The cases in the ECP and the SC are impeding the party in solely focusing on the elections hence these cases must be dealt with effectively.