ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday filed an application in the Islamabad High Court seeking to stop the Federal Investigation Agency from inquiries in the prohibited funding case.

The PTI’s counsel moved the application before the three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Babar Sattar.

In the petition, the PTI requested a restraining order of the court against the ongoing inquiries and subsequent action of the FIA.

The PTI has challenged the FIA’s report on its prohibited funding case that confirmed allegations that the PTI had received the funding through prohibited sources.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lawyer said that the PTI had been given sufficient opportunity for defence and to clarify its position in the case.

The Director General of Law of the ECP, Mohammad Arshad, said that the PTI did not respond to the show-cause notices issued to the party after the release of the report on its funding sources.

Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that the show-cause notice was not absolute; the political party could have answered the notice and could take appropriate defence by producing the relevant documents.

PTI’s counsel Anwar Mansoor Khan said that the ECP had no power to issue such a declaration as it was not a court of law.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case till Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2023