ECP issues show cause notice to PTI over receiving ‘prohibited funds’ 

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the much-awaited verdict in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) foreign funding case on Tuesday (today), declaring that the political party received ‘prohibited funds’-- terming the statements of  Imran Khan as false. 

A three-member bench of Election Commission of Pakistan headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi announced the verdict. 

The ECP in its reserved verdict stated that ‘unfamiliar accounts have emerged, adding that hiding accounts is a "violation of Article 17 of the Constitution'.

According to the judgment, PTI concealed thirteen accounts from the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The commission also found that the certificates submitted by Imran Khan regarding funding from 2008-2013 are ‘incorrect’. 

The ECP bench unearthed that 34 foreign donations were taken from America, Australia, Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

In addition, Imran Khan-led party took funds from business tycoon Arif Naqvi.  

A show-cause notice, however, has been issued to the PTI to explain why the commission should not seize the funds it received.

The ECP had reserved its judgment in the case on June 21. 

The case earlier referred to as the "foreign funding" case, was later referred to as the "prohibited funding" case after the election commission accepted the party’s plea. 

Before the verdict was announced, strict security measures have been deployed outside the ECP. 

The case was filed by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar and was pending since November 14, 2014. Babar had alleged serious financial irregularities in the party’s funding from Pakistan and abroad.