ECP issues notices on PTI's petition for scrutiny of PPP, PML-N accounts

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued notices to PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to submit their respective replies on petitions of PTI accusing them of concealing the source of their funds.

A five member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Raza, issued notices on two identical petitions after hearing initial arguments.

Advocate Faisal Chaudhry, who represented petitioner Farrukh Habib, accused the PML-N and the PPP of concealing the source of their funds and the companies registered by them abroad.

He said that audit report of the PML-N party fund accounts failed to disclose source of funds and accurate financial statement.

Besides, the PML-N spent an amount of Rs1.3 billion on 2013 general election campaign but failed to disclose as to what was the source of these funds.

Likewise, the PPP did not also disclose the source of its funds and the amount it spent on the campaign for the previous general elections.

He, therefore, has pleaded to the top electoral body to scrutinize the accounts of both parties.

The hearing was adjourned until January 8, 2018.

Advocate Jehangir Jadoon would represent the PML-N in the matter while Barrister Latif Khosa will plead the case on behalf of the PPP.