PMLN-led govt decides to place Imran Khan, other PTI leaders name on ECL
The PMLN-led federal coalition government has decided to place Imran Khan and several members of former ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on the Exit Control List (ECL) as it believed that they could escape abroad after ECP’s verdict in the prohibited foreign funding case.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of coalition partners that decided to move the Supreme Court, after ECP’s ruling on PTI prohibited funding case, sources said.
Political committee has been established under the chairmanship of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khurshid Shah Federal, which consists of Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and federal ministers Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Naveed Qamar for further progress on the Election Commission’s verdict against PTI in prohibited funding case.
The coalition partners constituted a legal committee and political committee to follow up on the ECP verdict in both aspects.
The legal committee will complete all formalities to approach the SC, and before doing so, it will seek approval from the federal cabinet.
The legal committee, headed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, will comprise Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, PPP leader Farooq H Naek and JUI-F’s Kamran Murtaza.
According to sources, both the committees will present their recommendations in the alliance meeting at 2 pm today.
Meeting also decided to place the names of central leadership of PTI on Exit Control List (ECL) to prevent them from leaving the country, sources added.
ECP’s ruling:
Announcing the long-awaited verdict in the prohibited funding case, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday ruled that PTI did indeed receive prohibited funding and kept 13 bank accounts hidden.
The decision was reserved on June 20 after the Election Commission heard the arguments of the parties. Today, a three-member bench consisting of Nisar Ahmed and Shah Muhammad Jatoi, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, pronounced the decision.
- Key points from PTI’s foreign funding case hearing:
- ECP finds PTI received funding from prohibited sources
- ECP rules party got funds from Arif Naqvi and 34 foreign nationals
- PTI had taken ownership of eight accounts and kept 13 accounts hidden
- Show-cause notice issued to PTI to explain why funds shouldn’t be seized
- Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I
In the unanimous decision of the three-member bench, the Chief Election Commissioner said that it was proved that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) received prohibited funding.
In the decision, it was said that funds from USA, Canada and Wootton Cricket to PTI were prohibited.
The verdict said that PTI received funds from 34 foreigners including Arif Naqvi, funding was also taken from Abraaj Group, IPI and USI.
Unknown accounts have also come to light, said the commission in its verdict, adding that hiding accounts is a “violation” of Article 17 of the Constitution.
Moreover, the ECP found that PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I and that the affidavit provided regarding party accounts was false.
The ECP decided to issue a show-cause notice to the PTI to explain why the commission should not seize the funds it received.
