ECP rejects PPP's petition against PM Imran over issuance of development funds

ECP rejects PPP's petition against PM Imran over issuance of development funds

Islamabad (Web Desk): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday dismissed the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) plea challenging Prime Minister Imran Khan for allocating funds to lawmakers before Senate elections.

A three-member ECP bench headed by Irshad Qaiser, a member from Khyber Paktunkhwa, heard the petition.

Earlier, PPP's counsel Nayyar Bukhari had filed the petition against the premier regarding corrupt practices in the Senate polls.

While alleging that the premier violated Section 181 of the Election Act by offering Rs500 million under development funds, Bukhari argued that Khan met with lawmakers after the announcement of the Senate election schedule.

The PPP lawyer said that four PTI MNAs confessed to taking funds during a TV programme so the ECP should send notices to these four MPs and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The bench said that code of conduct does not mention the release of funds by the Prime Minister.

“The code of conduct mentions only the President and governors, not the premier,” an ECP member from Balochistan said.

The ECP bench reserved its verdict after hearing the arguments, however t later dismissed the petition.