The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday expressed concern that hearing of a disqualification petition against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan at the Supreme Court (SC) would affect proceedings of a separate but similar case at the ECP. The PTI's lawyer, however, fears that the SC's hearings on Panamagate could be the cause for the delay.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) retired Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza ─ who was heading the bench hearing the case filed by Hashim Ali Bhutta at the ECP ─ noted today that "hearings [of the petition] in the apex court will affect the proceedings [at the ECP]."

Petitions seeking the disqualification of Imran Khan and PTI leader Jahangir Tareen over the non-disclosure of assets, their ownership of offshore companies and for collecting party funds through "prohibited sources" are currently being heard in both the SC and the ECP.

The SC is hearing a plea filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi seeking disqualification of Imran Khan and PTI General Secretary Jehangir Tareen, over "non-disclosure of assets, owning offshore companies and running a foreign-funded party", whereas the ECP is hearing a petition filed by Bhutta, who claims that the PTI had received about $3 million in "foreign funding" through various sources in Texas and California.

A political party cannot legally receive funds from foreign individuals or organisations, and all party heads are required to submit a declaration to the ECP in this regard while submitting details of their party assets.

Imran Khan's counsel at the ECP today voiced concerns that as the apex court begins hearing the Panama Papers case on Monday, the proceedings of the case against Khan may suffer delays.

"We will have to see how the case proceeds in the apex court," the CEC asserted.

The ECP adjourned its hearing of the Bhutta disqualification case until Aug 21.

In a previous hearing of the case at the ECP, the PTI's counsel had submitted objections to the petition filed by Bhutta. Shahid Gondal told the ECP that the petitioner was the son of a former PML-N MNA and he had filed the petition on behalf of the ruling party.

The CEC had expressed displeasure over the PTI's move, saying that the bench was already planning to adjourn the hearing for an indefinite period as per Khan’s request after receiving a response from him on the points raised by the petitioner.