Party funding case: Bench advises lawyer not to intrude personal affairs

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court bench on Thursday while hearing Hanif Abbasi’s disqualification petition noted that the petitioner’s counsel, Akram Sheikh, is unnecessarily intruding into Imran Khan’s personal affairs by deviating from the actual stance.

The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, was hearing the disqualification petition against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for concealing his assets and the foreign funding of his party.

During the court proceeding, the petitioner’s counsel, Akram Sheikh, in his arguments laid emphasis on investigation to find the actual source of PTI’s funds.

He said it is apparently evident in record books that the PTI chairman has received foreign funds.

“Are you accusing Imran Khan of money laundering?” the bench asked Sheikh while noting transparency in bank accounts’ statements and financial records.

Responding to the bench’s query, the petitioner’s counsel said that he is only posing question on the authenticity of documents.

On which, the bench remarked: “Is there any discrepancy exists between financial records and bank accounts’ statements?”

Sheikh contended that the PTI chief is also obliged to give accurate and authentic financial details under law.

The bench ruled that no discrepancy has been found in bank account statements and other financial records while observing that Imran had declared his Bani Gala property in the nomination papers for the 2002 elections.

The petitioner’s council argued that if Jemima Goldsmith has helped Imran for constructing Bani Gala residence then why she did not return. He asserted that Imran Khan should be disqualified for not declaring a loan that he received from his former wife, Jemima, as an asset.

The bench then remarked that Sheikh is intruding the personal affairs of Imran Khan while ruling that husband and wife relations should not be discussed in the court.

The hearing was then adjourned till further notice.