IHC Nullifies Its Earlier Ruling Of Disposing Of Foreign Funding Case In 30 Days.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday partially accepted an Intra Court Appeal (ICA) of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) by setting aside a single bench's judgment to the extent of the direction to the ECP 'to decide the pending complaint within period of thirty (30) days.'

A division bench of the IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Babar Sattar conducted hearing of the PTI's ICA while it disposed of its petition of same nature with the expectation that the Commission will complete the pending proceedings against other political parties within a reasonable time and in a fair, just and transparent manner.

The IHC bench said in its written order that it would not be appropriate for this court to give a direction to the ECP on the basis of unsubstantiated apprehensions.

The court observed, 'We are, therefore, satisfied that at this stage, neither an adverse order has been passed by the Commission nor it is likely to be passed in derogation of the procedure prescribed under rule 6 of the Rules of 2002. We have not been able to persuade ourselves that the Appellant has been prejudiced in any manner.'

'In the light of the assurance given by the representative of the ECP, we have no reason to doubt that all political parties will be extended equal treatment and that their cases would be concluded with due diligence and within a reasonable time,' said the bench.

It added that for the above reasons, the court partially allows the appeal by setting aside the judgment, dated 01-04-2022, to the extent of the direction 'to decide the pending complaint within period of thirty (30) days'.

In this matter, the PTI filed the Intra Court Appeal assailing judgment of IHC single bench, dated 01-04-2022, whereby Writ Petition No 958/2022 was dismissed. It had also filed an application before the Election Commission of Pakistan and it was prayed therein that Akbar Sher Babar be restrained from participating in the pending proceedings. The application was dismissed by the Commission vide order, dated 15-03-2022. The connected constitutional petition was filed by the Additional Secretary General of PTI wherein a direction was sought against the Commission to cause the State Bank of Pakistan to locate the accounts of all the political parties. A further direction was also sought restraining the Commission from causing discrimination and to proceed against all the political parties on day to day basis.

The bench noted...