ECP directs PML-N to submit reply in party funding case

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday directed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to submit its response on a petition accusing it of receiving funds from prohibited sources.

A bench of the ECP was hearing the petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) seeking scrutiny of the accounts of PML-N to determine whether the party had received funds from sources prohibited under the election laws.

PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry and a junior lawyer, representing the ruling PML-N, appeared before the bench.

When asked about the party’s response in the case, the PML-N lawyer requested for some time to file the reply.

The ECP directed him to submit a written response today and adjourned the hearing till March 06.

In the petition, the PTI has accused the PML-N of concealing the source of its funds.

Advocate Faisal Chaudhry submitted that audit report of the PML-N party fund accounts did not adequately disclose the sources of funds.

He said the ruling party spent about Rs1.3 billion on the campaign for the 2013 general election, but failed to reveal how did the party get funds from.

The PTI has also filed a separate, but identical petition against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), claiming that it has also failed to disclose the source of funds.

It requested the electoral body to carry out scrutiny of the accounts of both the parties.