Foreign funding case

With the option of resignations almost over, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is pressing ahead with its ‘Plan B’. The multi-party alliance would stage a sit-in in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) headquarters to protest against delays in the hearing of PTI’s foreign funding case.

Reiterating his commitment to overthrow the government, the PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman once again claimed ECP was delaying the case because the largest chunk of funds for PTI allegedly came from Israel. The opposition alliance has already given an ultimatum till January 31 to Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down, or else it may hold a march in Islamabad to oust the government through the “power of the people”.

After the options like resignations from the assemblies, boycotting the Senate elections and bypolls were put on a back burner, the PDM resorted to ‘Plan B’ infusing more vigor into its protest drive and not to provide any letup to the PTI government.

The case relates way back to November 14 when a petition was filed by estranged PTI founding member Akbar S Baba in ECP based on the evidence of illegal funding, money laundering, and mega corruption of party funds. When the Election Commission investigated, 23 accounts of the PTI came to light. The opposition said that the PTI has declared only 5 accounts and 18 accounts were kept secret. PTI has said it has only 5 accounts and the remaining 18 accounts were opened by local organizations and activists for the election campaign who have no direct affiliation with the party.

Under section 13 of the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002, it is necessary to submit the audit report of the party’s bank accounts to the ECP but most of these details are not avoided or misrepresented. According to PPO’s Article 15, where the federal government is satisfied that a political party is a foreign-aided party or is operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan or is indulging in terrorism, it shall impose a ban on the party.

Within fifteen days of making a declaration under clause, the federal government shall refer the matter to the Supreme Court whose decision on such reference shall be final. In this context, the ECP should use its powers to make political parties accountable for all sources of funding focus on money coming from foreign sources. It does not seem that the opposition will have much success in the foreign funding case either which has been delayed for years. It remains to be seen what new tactics the opposition will use to weaken the Imran Khan-led government after the foreign funding case.