ECP's decision in prohibited funding case against PTI an 'observation' IHC.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday reserved its verdict in the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)'s fact finding report in prohibited funding case. A larger-bench of the IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Baber Sattar conducted hearing of the case filed by the PTI challenging the ECP's decision and seeking to stop FIA's action. During the hearing, the IHC Chief Justice remarked that the ECP's decision in the prohibited funding case against the PTI was an 'observation' and that if the PTI proved that the funds were not prohibited, the decision will have to be changed. Barrister Anwar Mansoor on behalf of the PTI appeared before the court and in his arguments, he said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had begun its action in the context of the ECP's decision. Justice Aamer said that the commission's decision was sometimes being called an order, sometimes a report, and sometimes an opinion. He maintained that he viewed it as a fact-finding report. The PTI lawyer maintained that the ECP had no authority to give such a declaration. The IHC CJ said that the electoral body had not given any declaration that stated Imran Khan is not honest and trustworthy. He added that the commission had only made one conclusion. At this, Mansoor stated that the ECP had in fact given its declaration and reiterated that it did not have the authority to do so. He continued that the ECP had used the word 'hold' and Justice Aurangzeb questioned that how the commission could do that without showing its show-cause notice to the PTI. Justice Aamer inquired that whether the former ruling party was worried about disqualification at the...