Prohibited funding: Govt to submit declaration against PTI to SC

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Thursday decided in principle to submit a declaration against the PTI in the Supreme Court after the Election Commission of Pakistan’s verdict in the party’s prohibited funding case.

In the 2014 prohibited funding case, the electoral body in its ruling earlier this week had stated former premier Imran Khan’s party accepted millions of dollars in illegal funds from foreign individuals and groups.

The decision to file the declaration was announced at a post-cabinet press briefing by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb here. She said the Ministry of Law and Justice would present the declaration in the next cabinet meeting after reviewing all legal aspects, Radio Pakistan reported.

The minister said the cabinet also directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to hold an investigation into the aspects of money laundering, fake accounts, misappropriation of funds and use of charity money.

She said representatives from the State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), FIA and other financial institutions would be part of the investigation team.

The cabinet paid rich tributes to the martyrs who had lost their lives in the recent helicopter crash in Balochistan. The cabinet also lauded the performance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for its satisfactory Hajj arrangements.

The minister said reports of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) were presented before the cabinet to review relief activities in the flood-affected areas of Balochistan. She said the cabinet also appreciated work of the NDMA and PDMA. She said the cabinet asked the NDMA to hold a comprehensive survey to assess the damages caused by floods. She said the cabinet asked the Economic Affairs Division to engage international donor agencies to play their role in relief and rehabilitation in the flood-affected areas of the country. The cabinet also approved the Pakistan-Denmark framework agreement to enhance bilateral economic relations.

The minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the authorities concerned to immediately provide relief goods to affected people. She said the Prime Minister also directed that one million rupees compensation should be given to the families of deceased persons.