Court stops FIA from probing Asad Qaiser in prohibited funding case

• PHC orders FIA to not probe Asad Qaiser till next hearing.
• PHC asks what directions has ECP issued for probe.
• Probe comes after ECP says PTI received prohibited funding.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Thursday stopped the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from investigating PTI leader Asad Qaiser in the prohibited funding case.

The anti-corruption watchdog had summoned the former National Assembly speaker for questioning him today, but he refused to appear before the body as he had challenged their decision to summon him a day earlier.

In a short order issued after today's hearing, the court prohibited the anti-corruption watchdog from investigating the ex-NA speaker till the next hearing.

The court, in the order, asked the FIA what were the directions that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued to the body regarding the probe.

The PHC asked the FIA whether the federal government asked it to probe the PTI leaders. It also asked the FIA whether the probing under the Political Parties Order 2022 comes under the ambit of the body.

The high court also asked the FIA whether the summoning of the former NA speaker was based on "malintent or whether it was politically influenced".

The prohibited funding case

In a unanimous ruling, the election commission's three-member bench had said earlier this month it found that the PTI received prohibited funding.

The case was earlier referred to as the "foreign funding" case, but later, the election commission accepted the PTI's plea to refer to it as the "prohibited funding" case.

As per the 68-page order, the commission states that the Imran Khan-led PTI, indeed, received funding from foreign companies and individuals, but the party did not declare it.

The ECP's verdict states that the PTI received funds from 34 individuals and 351 businesses, including companies.

Thirteen unknown accounts have also come to light, said the commission in the verdict, adding that hiding accounts are a "violation" of Article 17 of the Constitution.

Moreover, the ECP found that the PTI chairperson submitted a false Nomination Form I and that the affidavit provided regarding party accounts was false.

For now, the ECP has issued a show-cause notice to the party to explain why the prohibited funds should not be confiscated.