ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday met his legal assistant Babar Awan and discussed several constitutional and legal issues, including the foreign funding case against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), besides the political situation in the country.

Mr Awan gave a detailed briefing to the prime minister on the foreign funding case being heard by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and said the PTI was being falsely implicated in the case. “All PTI accounts are audited,” he said.

PM Khan asked the party leaders not to worry about the foreign funding case against the PTI a day after the ECP had ordered hearing of the case on a daily basis.

Under the law, the federal government could review foreign funding, the prime minister said, adding that first those who were allegedly involved in the fake bank accounts case and money laundering should be made answerable for their “misdeeds”.

Discusses legal, political situation with Babar; asks PTI members not to worry over case

During the meeting, the prime minister also expressed satisfaction over improvement in the country’s economic situation. Latest figures in this regard also came under discussion.

Mr Khan welcomed the World Bank for restoring Pakistan’s budget support and said efforts to create economic instability in the country were being foiled. “The trust of global institutions in Pakistan is growing,” he added.

The prime minister sounded confident that if the accountability process continued, it would restore the institution’s confidence in Pakistan. “International institutions welcome incr­easing confidence in Pak­istan,” he added.

He reiterated that he would not compromise on the rule of law and “corrupt mafia” would not get any concession.

About the economic situation, he said fruit of the government economic policy’s success would start reaching the people soon.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan quoted Mr Khan as telling the meeting that the ECP was independent to try any case, but it was the government’s request to simultaneously hear cases of all major parties, including the ruling PTI, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

“We have already filed applications in the ECP for probing the party funding of the PPP and the PML-N; therefore, we demand that the commission hear cases of three parties at the same time and not to single out the PTI,” Mr Khan was quoted as saying.

She said the prime minister had asked the party members not to worry about the foreign funding case “because party funds have already been audited and their reports have been presented before courts”.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2019