Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday heard code of conduct violation case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Hamza Shahbaz.

Heading a five-member bench, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Raza heard a case of violation of election code of conduct and said the ECP will separately hear a contempt of court case against Kaptaan.

The ECP rejected the petition filed by PTI challenging the commission`s jurisdiction. Imran counsel took the plea that a case relating to the code violation was pending in Islamabad High Court, pleading the Commission not to heard the case until disposal of the petition pending in IHC.

Upon this, the CEC remarked that the matter was pending in Supreme Court, asking the PTI leader to present the verdict of the apex court. The PTI chief counsel responded that the SC had disposed off the petition. The EC said that the commission was yet to receive the verdict of the apex court.

The CEC directed Khan’s counsel to produce IHC’s order in the next hearing, adding, “The ECP did not receive any copy of Supreme Court of Pakistan order as well.” “We conducted hundreds of by-elections under the same electoral code of conduct,” the CEC said.

The hearing was adjourned till May 17.

Later talking to media, founder member of PTI Akbar S Babar said PTI could not present any evidence regarding its foreign funding.

He said PTI Chairman should present himself for accountability.

PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz says PTI introduced foreign finding in politics.

He was talking to media in Islamabad today. He said PTI has no money trail of the funding.

It is to be mentioned here that the ECP had issued notice to Imran and Hamza on charges of violation of its code of conduct during by-elections on National Assembly seats from Punjab held last year.