ISLAMABAD: Opposition Ittehad PDM activists and leaders are protesting outside the Election Commission for decision on foreign funding case against PTI.
According to sources, a coalition of major opposition parties is protesting in front of the Election Commission office in Islamabad for an early decision in the years-long foreign funding case against the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). A large number of workers and leaders are arriving from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Rawalpindi, while the PDM leadership will reach the Election Commission in a special container from the house of Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
The government has allowed the PDM to protest in the red zone, but also warned that stern action would be taken if the law was taken into account. Security is on high alert to prevent any untoward incident during the protests. Barbed wire has been installed along the block in front of the Election Commission door. In addition, the situation will be monitored with the help of Safe City cameras and drones
Foreign funding case background
In 2014, Akbar S. Babar, a deviant member of the PTI, had filed a petition with the Election Commission alleging irregularities in party funds. He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had received funds from foreigners in addition to Pakistanis living abroad, which was not allowed by Pakistani law. In his petition, he has stated that limited liability companies were set up in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and other countries to raise funds for the party from Pakistanis living there, in which the proceeds came from illicit sources.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claims that the party did not receive funds from illicit sources, all documents of funds received from abroad are available. The PTI has approached the Islamabad High Court six times to stay the hearing of the petition in the ECP, arguing that the ECP does not have the authority to audit any party’s accounts. The PTI also filed similar petitions against the PPP and the PML-N in the Election Commission. A special scrutiny committee was set up to look into the matter.