ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday filed a plea in the Supreme Court (SC) challenging the verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declaring Akbar S Babar as his party member in the foreign funding case.

Imran Khan said Akbar S Babar, a founding member of the party, had no association with the PTI since 2011. He said an email in which Akbar Babar announced to dissociate with the party was on the record.

He argued that the high court could not announce a verdict based on controversial facts. He also challenged jurisdiction of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) saying that the commission had no authority to hear the case of Akbar S Babar as he was not an affectee of the PTI foreign funding. He said Babar’s appearing before the scrutiny committee was also in violation of the law.

Also Read: Firdous slams opposition parties stance on PTI’s foreign funding case

The PTI chief has requested the apex court to annul the IHC verdict declaring Akbar Babar as PTI member.

Akbar S Babar had filed the case against the currently ruling party in November 2014 alleging it of embezzlement and illegitimate funding.

On Dec 2, the counsel of Akbar S Babar had said that the PTI should publicise details of its accounts as it was a matter of national interest. He had blamed that the ruling party had itself become an obstacle in the way of dispensing justice to the masses.

On Nov 21, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had rejected the opposition parties’ stance on the foreign funding case of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had said Prime Minister Imran Khan firmly believed in supremacy of the constitution, rule of law and across the board accountability.

In a series of tweets, she had said the entire nation was witness to the fact as to who was declared ‘Sadiq & Ameen’ by the country’s apex court and who was declared dishonest.

The special assistant had said, “We condemn their sordid plot of trying to make the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) a hostage and influence its decision.”

She had said the PTI stood firm on its ideology and stance and like others it would not tread the course of evading accountability.

On Nov 21, Senior Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Leader Ahsan Iqbal had blamed that the PTI, through different tactics, was trying to influence the ECP.