ISLAMABAD:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday decided to revise the charge sheet in the foreign funding case against PTI founder Imran Khan and others after two new suspects were added to the probe.
The Islamabad Banking Court heard the case on Friday and summoned two new people: PTI Chief Finance Officer Siraj Ahmed and private bank employee Faisal Qazi for questioning.
Justice Abdul Ghafoor Kakar presided over the hearing and Special Prosecutor Wasiq Malik represented the prosecution.
“The partial charge sheet has already been submitted,” Malik told the court. “With the inclusion of two new suspects, we will be filing a full charge sheet instead of a supplemental one.”
Justice Kakar asked how much time would be required to complete the charge sheet. Malik said, “If the court gives 10 to 15 days, we will submit the entire charge sheet.”
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The court ordered that the entire chargesheet against Imran Khan and others be submitted by March 5. Anticipatory bail for Siraj Ahmed and Faisal Qazi was granted till this date.
The next hearing in PTI’s foreign funding case is scheduled for March 5.
In August 2022, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) delivered its verdict in the Prohibited Funding Case, formerly known as the Foreign Funding Case, stating that the PTI had received prohibited funding.
The ECP noted that the PTI “knowingly and knowingly” received $2.12 million from Wootton Cricket Limited, run by businessman Arif Naqvi, and described the party as a “willing recipient” of the banned funds.
The commission added that PTI also received donations from Bristol Engineering Services (UAE), E-Planet Trustees (Cayman Islands), SS Marketing Manchester (UK), PTI USA LLC-6160 and PTI USA LLC-5975, which violated Pakistani laws.
However, the PTI maintains that the funds were donations from Pakistanis living abroad and did not constitute illegal financing.
