Islamabad: Larger bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) sought written arguments from PTI's counsel on petition challenging show-cause notice of Election Commission of Pakistan in prohibited funding case.

Court also instructed lawyer to share copy of arguments with Akber S. Baber, complainant in prohibited funding case. Larger bench headed by Justice Aamer Farooq and comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Baber Sattar heard case. 

At outset of hearing, PTI's lawyer Anwar Mansoor said that deposit of money in accounts had been declared as prohibited funding. Said amount was collected in abroad and sent to Pakistan, he added, saying that what's wrong in it if concerned company itself admitted that this money was solely sent by it.

Lawyer adopted stance that as per procedure after scrutiny of any party's accounts a show-cause was used to be served and then a final decision was taken. But in this case ECP declared this notice as final verdict and proclaimed PTI as foreign funded, he said.

Lawyer also gave reference of a verdict of top court and a US law and said that how his party could be declared as foreign funded. He, however, admitted that ECP had authority to collect relevant data.

Court asked PTI's leader to prepare paper work for it and submit written arguments on next hearing. Further hearing of case was then adjourned till November 22.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 28 2022

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