Akbar S Babar, a founding member estranged from PTI, has called for an investigation into the party’s undisclosed foreign bank accounts. His demand, made in a letter to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, highlights the lack of action taken despite the PTI foreign funding case verdict being issued 20 months ago.
“The accounts may be used for anti-state activities,” Babar expressed concern over the potential use of these accounts for activities against the state and emphasized the need for legal measures to be taken promptly. “Despite PTI’s illegal foreign funding being proved, no action to protect the national security of Pakistan was worrisome,” he further wrote in his letter.
The letter underscored Babar’s disappointment with the failure to uphold national security in light of PTI’s proven illegal foreign funding. He urged the implementation of all provisions outlined in the Election Commission of Pakistan’s August 2022 order, labeling the undisclosed foreign bank accounts as a ‘crime’ and calling for accountability within the party.
Case dates back to 2014
The ECP’s long-awaited verdict in August 2022 confirmed PTI’s receipt of illegal funding, based on a case filed by Babar in November 2014. The three-member ECP bench, led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, announced the verdict after years of pending proceedings. This case, dating back to 2014, has been a focal point of scrutiny regarding PTI’s financial practices.
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The written order from the ECP detailed that PTI had received millions of dollars in illegal funds from various foreign countries, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and Australia. The order also directed further legal actions to be initiated as per the Commission’s findings, highlighting discrepancies in PTI chief Imran Khan’s submissions and identifying 13 ‘unknown’ accounts linked to the party. PTI has consistently refuted these allegations, dismissing them as baseless.