Two more suspects included in PTI's foreign funding case

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday decided to modify the charge sheet in the foreign funding case against PTI founder Imran Khan and others as two new suspects were included in the investigation.

The Islamabad Banking Court on Friday heard the case, summoning two new people: PTI Chief Finance Officer Siraj Ahmed and private bank employee Faisal Qazi for questioning.

Judge Abdul Ghafoor Kakar conducted the hearing, with Special Prosecutor Wasiq Malik representing the prosecution.

“The partial charge sheet has already been submitted,” Malik told the court. “With the inclusion of two new suspects, we will submit a complete charge sheet instead of a supplementary one.”

Judge Kakar asked how much time would be needed to complete the charge sheet. Malik said, “If the court grants 10 to 15 days, we will submit the full charge sheet.”

The court ordered that the complete charge sheet against Imran Khan and others be filed by March 5. Interim bail for Siraj Ahmed and Faisal Qazi has been extended until then.

The next hearing in the PTI foreign funding case is set for March 5.

In August 2022, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced its decision in the prohibited funding case, also known as the foreign funding case, and declared that the PTI had received prohibited funding.

The ECP observed that the PTI was a “willing recipient” of the prohibited funds and that it “knowingly and willfully” received $2.12 million from Wootton Cricket Limited, a company run by businessman Arif Naqvi.