Pak: PTI lawmakers memorandum to ECP ahead of Imran Khan's protest

The protesters included PTI leaders Faisal Javed Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Pervez Khattak, Asad Umar, Azam Swati, Shibli Faraz, and Kanwal Shauzab among others, reported Dawn.

While marching towards the ECP office, the demonstrators were also carrying placards which read "Biased chief election commissioner unacceptable" and "ECP abettors of PML-N, PPP" as they demanded Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja's resignation.

The submission of memorandum against Raja and his role as the CEC came right after the ECP's August 2 verdict in PTI's prohibited funding case.

Blaming the CEC for being biased, the lawmakers stated "From the investigation to its verdict, the case is surrounded by severe doubts," the memorandum stated, adding that Imran Khan had also, on multiple occasions, expressed his reservations with the ECP and the CEC, reported Dawn.

It also alleged that the verdict of the poll body was influenced by the CEC's meeting with the coalition parties last week.

The PTI, which has demanded Raja's resignation, is scheduled to stage a protest outside the electoral watchdog's office today (August 4) and it has been called in anticipation of the prohibited funding verdict.

The government, however, has declared it won't allow protesters to enter the Red Zone.

Ahead of the protest, PTI chief Imran Khan said, " "Today, I am calling all our people to come out in [a] peaceful public protest against the CEC and ECP in F-9 park at 6pm. I will be addressing the gathering between 7-7:30pm."

However, Islamabad authorities denied the PTI's request to stage a protest against the ECP at the nearby Nadra Chowk and suggested F-9 park and H-9 ground as alternate venues.

According to Dawn, Section 144 had been imposed on all kinds of public gatherings in the federal capital including in and around Red Zone on July 23.

In a statement, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed yesterday that the government had received information that the PTI was planning to create an "anarchic situation" outside the ECP, warning of stern action in case of any violence or attempt to cross the "red line".

The show cause notice issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on prohibited funding to PTI is likely to put Imran Khan's leadership in danger as the funds received by the PTI Chief from foreign countries including the US, UAE, Australia and UK could lead to several numbers of cases against the party.

The move by ECP came right after it was revealed that the money received from the foreign countries was used by Khan to fund PTI and he made false declarations in 2018 before the elections.

The ECP in its decision issued a show-cause notice to the PTI, as to why the prohibited funds may not be confiscated as confiscation of the prohibited funds is the domain of the ECP.

The foreign funding case is pending since November 14, 2014, and it was filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar who had alleged that there are some financial irregularities in the PTI's funding from Pakistan and abroad. (ANI)