ISLAMABAD: As many as 11 opposition Senators have submitted an adjournment motion seeking discussion on the disclosures made by the Election Commission of Pakistan’s scrutiny committee about foreign funding of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PML-N) told Dawn that a calling attention notice on the issue had also been moved.

The notice seeks to include the issue in the agenda for an immediate discussion by the Senate.

Hidayat Ullah (Awami National Party), Tahir Bizenjo (National Party), Irfan Siddiqui, Rana Maqbool and Dr Afnan Ullah Khan (PML-N), Rukhsana Zuberi and Palwasha Khan (Pakistan Peoples Party), Sajid Mir (Jamiat Ahle Hadith), Sardar Shafiq Tarin (Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party), Maulana Faiz Mohammad (Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl) and Mushtaq Ahmad (Jamaat-i-Islami) have signed the notice.

Report on Finance (Supplementary) Bill is also on the agenda though house committee is yet to conclude discussion

Irfan Siddiqui said the PTI’s claim about transparency in its funds stood exposed with the revelation that it not only concealed its bank accounts and under-reported its income but also received donations from prohibited sources, including foreign companies and nationals.

The issue has, however not been included in the Monday’s agenda, which is a private members’ day.

According to the agenda, Leader of the House in the Senate Dr Shahzad Wasim will move a motion seeking to suspend the routine business for discussion on the mini-budget.

Surprisingly, the presentation of report on the finance (supplementary) bill by Senate Standing Committee on Finance chairman Talha Mehmood (JUI-F) is also on the agenda while the panel is yet to conclude discussion.

“The government is in a haste to impose more taxes through the money bill, but I fail to understand why the JUI-F is also in a hurry,” a PPP lawmaker said.

He said the inclusion in the agenda of the report’s presentation shows Talha Mehmood wanted to wrap up the matter at an abnormally high speed on Monday when his committee would meet hours before the session.

Talha Mehmood could not be contacted for comment.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2022