PTI rejects PML-N’s claim of foreign funding
islamabad — Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Monday rejected the claims levelled by Pakistan Muslim League’s (PML-N) Hanif Abbasi that PTI was acquiring funds through foreign sources and non-Muslims, accusing Abbasi of attempting to malign the minorities in the country, reports Dawn online.
In its reply submitted before the Supreme Court (SC), the PTI maintained that the petitioner had not submitted any evidence of PTI receiving funds from prohibited sources, DawnNews reported. “On the other hand, the PTI has submitted all relevant documents to the court,” it added.
PTI’s reply also stated that the petitioner alleged that the party had acquired funds from nonMuslims, which should be seen as an attack on Pakistan’s minorities, who “have had an important role to play in the country’s progress”.
“The constitution of Pakistan does not differentiate between Muslims and non-Muslims,” it maintained.
Abbasi’s petition in SC seeks disqualification of PTI chief Imran Khan and Secretary General Jahangir Tareen over non-disclosure of assets, the existence of offshore companies owned by them and for PTI being a foreign-aided party.
The Political Parties Order, 2002, prohibited parties from receiving foreign funds, Abbasi’s counsel Akram Sheikh had argued, adding that the PTI received $2.3 million in foreign funding between 2010 and 2013.
In its reply submitted to the court on Monday, PTI claimed that other parties, including the PPP and PML-N, have also raised funds through foreign sources but not provided details to the Election Commission of Pakistan.