ISLAMABAD - Three months back when one of the founding members of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) filed petition seeking probe into what he alleged financial malpractices in the party, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday summoned Imran Khan to explain whether the allegations levelled by complainant are true.
According to spokesman of ECP, the commission Wednesday issued notices to Chairman PTI and Secretary General Jahangir Tareen to appear before the commission on February 23.
The complaint was filed in November last year by Akbar S Babar, one of the founding members of PTI, seeking investigation into “financial malpractices in the party funds” and accountability of those responsible for it.
The petitioner, Akbar S. Babar, has accused the PTI leadership of disregarding and violating provisions of the Political Parties Order, 2002. He has attached documentary evidence with the petition, including the copy of an audit of the party’s funds and receipts of donations received from abroad. But PTI has already brushed aside the allegations.
The petitioner who is no more member of PTI had said that around $200,000 had been sent by PTI members from the US between Feb 2010 and June 2013 for the sole purpose of opening of the party’s district offices, but the funds were not used for that purpose.
Babar during his talks with reporters had said the report had substantiated fears he had expressed in 2011 that the donations had made their way into bank accounts of PTI leaders.
At that time, he said, he had suggested that a ‘forensic audit’ of PTI accounts be conducted and an accountability commission be formed to hold corrupt party leaders accountable.
The complainant had claimed that the auditor was denied access to complete information and was not allowed to audit expenses of the party and donations received for last year’s general elections.