Imran claims taking money from foreign companies wasn’t illegal in 2012

Islamabad: Former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan on Thursday claimed that getting money from foreign companies was not illegal in 2012.

His statement came in light of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s verdict in the PTI prohibited funding case.

In an address to supporters via video link, Khan blasted the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for issuing "awakward" verdict, saying the law which prohibited taking funds from foreign companies was introduced in 2017, but our [PTI] case was from 2012.

Replying to all the allegations against him and his party today, the PTI chief said his party had received money in 2012 from two fundraising dinners that Arif Naqvi had organised.

Referring to the Financial Times’ report, he clarified that the businessman was charged with fraud six years later in 2018 and questioned how he could have known about that in 2012.

Imran added that there was nothing wrong with the PTI receiving money from a foreign company of Naqvi in 2012 since it was still allowed at the time, adding that it only became illegal later in 2017.

Furthermore, he claimed that PTI was the only party that raised money through political fundraising, unlike other parties (PML-N and PPP) which he said were run by “mafias”.

“Across the world, political parties raise money by hosting dinners,” he said, explaining that the donations during those events were later given to the party.

“Ask these two parties why don’t they do this. I will tell you […] because they know no one will give them money.

“And this is the reason why I kept demanding that all the parties should be investigated together. The nation should know how they raise money,” he said, alleging that ECP’s verdict proved that it couldn’t see PTI succeeding.

“It is saying that that money raised by overseas Pakistanis is wrong. They are calling it foreign funding,” Imran stated. “Tell me, if this money is foreign funding, then what about the remittances and the money that is sent for earthquakes and floods?

“The ECP is almost saying that money sent by overseas Pakistanis will be regarded as foreign funding,” he said.

He also refuted the claims that he had signed an affidavit, claiming that it was a certificate.

Moreover, the PTI leader said the ECP had played a “big role” in controlling elections in the country.

“The nation was turned into a slave through the commission. How? People come to vote and elect their candidates but ECP didn’t let that happen,” he alleged.

Khan said this was also why the electoral body had rejected the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

“I will tell you why they didn’t let this happen. They knew that the secret hands that controlled the results would no longer be able to do so,” Imran further said.

The PTI stalwart regretted that unfortunately “those forces are still controlling the country”.

He claimed that the ECP issued the verdict on the behest of the ruling coalition.