Islamabad (Staff Report): Every political party is accountable for their source of funds under Article 17 (3) of the Constitution, remarks Chief Justice Saqib Nisar.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, comprising Justice Umar Bandiyal and Justice Faisal Arab on Monday resumed hearing of a petition filed by Pakistan Muslime League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi seeking disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan for concealing assets and violating Income Tax Ordinance. He also called the PTI a foreign-funded party.
Counsel for Imran Khan, Anwar Mansoor, started presenting arguments before the court against the imposed allegation.
Anwar Mansoor argued that ECP does not have the right to audit the party’s funds after they have been audited by a chartered accountant.
Chief Justice remarked that every political party was accountable for their source of funds under Article 17 (3) of the Constitution.
“I am not denying it as I want to say something else,” Mansoor replied.
The chief justice inquired whether ECP could not investigate the details of received funds by political parties to which Mansoor said that there were no such provisions in the law.
The ECP cannot conduct an inquiry into submitted details of party funds, Mansoor said.
Later, Hanfi Abbasi’s counsel, Akram Sheikh presented his arguments before the court. He stated that PTI claims they received funds from those who have Pakistani origin card, adding that holder of these cards did not have Pakistani citizenship.
The PTI committed contempt of court by filing wrong documents, Sheikh said.
