Pakistani court rejects ex-Premier Khan's appeal against electoral watchdog's ruling

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) – A Pakistani court has rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s appeal against a report by the country’s electoral authority that said his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party violated rules by receiving funds from prohibited sources.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) made the “correct” decision when it issued Khan a show-cause notice last August.

Khan, who was ousted from power in April, has challenged the ECP’s findings, accusing the electoral authority of targeting his party.

The IHC, however, said the ECP report is “tentative” and will only be formalized once the PTI is given a “fair opportunity” to present its defense.

The court added that it is “not inclined to judicially review the preliminary findings.”

In a unanimous verdict, a three-member ECP bench declared that the PTI received funds from 351 companies and 34 individuals in the US, UK, Australia, UAE, and other countries.

Last month, the ECP issued bailable arrest warrants for Khan and two of his close aides for contempt over comments made against the electoral watchdog and its chief Sikander Sultan Raja.

On Jan. 25, senior PTI leader and ex-Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry was arrested on accusations that he threatened Raja and other ECP members in remarks made at a press conference, according to the case record.