Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought replies from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in cases related to Imran Khan’s disqualification and party’s foreign funding on July 6 and July 10 respectively.

A four-member bench of the ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Raza Khan took up for hearing the disqualification case of Imran Khan on Thursday.

During the hearing, counsel for Imran Khan Shahid Gondal appeared before the ECP and presented the order of the Supreme Court issued on June 13. He said that the ECP has adjourned the case filed by Akbar S Babar against PTI indefinitely. The CEC replied they were ready to adjourn the case for an indefinite period but reply should be filed first.

On the other hand, Counsel for Hashim Bhutta while opposing adjournment of hearing of case for an indefinite period said that their petition is far different from Akbar S Babr’s.

Later, counsel for Imran Khan sought more time from the ECP for filing reply in the matter of collecting funds allegedly through illegal means. The ECP has given time until July 6 to file the reply. During the course of hearing of party funding case, counsel for Akbar S Babar took the plea that SC had given no decision in Hanif Abbasi case against PTI’s foreign funding. To it, the counsel for PTI said they have already challenged the jurisdiction of the ECP in the Islamabad High Court. The CEC said if high court had issued any stay order, it should be presented. “SC will decide either ECP has jurisdiction to hear party funding case or otherwise … we have already given our judgment on matter of jurisdiction,” he added.