ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved its verdict in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s prohibited foreign funding case.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the case on Tuesday in which Babar’s financial expert Arsalan Wardak presented his arguments.

The party did not deny funding from a UAE company worth $49,000 and other funds from the UK, he argued.

The details of donors who funded the party from Norway, Canada, Finland, New Zealand and Australia in 2013 were not revealed, Wardak added.

At this Raja said the PTI had submitted details in the commission later.

Wardak argued that the PTI had concealed 11 bank accounts worth Rs57 million, but later the party confirmed that the accounts belonged to it.

The party also did not submit details of the companies established abroad for funding of the party, he added.

The PTI’s lawyer raised objection on the financial expert’s arguments and said he did not rebut any facts presented during the hearing of the case.

CEC Raja said he would ensure justice with all parties and restore confidence of voters in the election process. “Democracy is vital for the country. It should be strengthened.”

Later, the commission reserved verdict of the case.

Details of the case

• In November 2014, Akbar Sher Babar, one of the founding members of the PTI, moved the ECP and accused that the party had received foreign funding
• He sought action against the PTI in accordance with related constitutional provisions
• The PTI received more than $7.3 million funds from 12 countries in at least 12 suspected bank accounts from 2009 to 2013.
• The PTI approached the Islamabad High Court six times to delay verdict of the case. It also challenged authority of the commission.
• The PTI changed nine lawyers during hearings of the case that lasted seven years and seven months.
• The Supreme Court ordered an audit of the party’s funds from 2009 to 2013 as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Hanif Abbasi filed a case in the apex court in 2018 against the PTI.
• A scrutiny committee was formed in March 2018 to investigate the suspected accounts.
• After conducting 96 sessions, the panel submitted a report in the commission in August 2020.
• The ECP dismissed the initial report.
• The committee submitted a final report in January 2022.
• The election commission conducted at least 100 hearings of the case.