FIA to file revised charge sheet in PTI foreign funding case after adding two suspects

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 including two new suspects in the investigation.

The case was heard by the Islamabad Banking Court, where Judge Abdul Ghafoor Kakar summoned PTI Chief Finance Officer Siraj Ahmed and private bank employee Faisal Qazi for questioning.

Special Prosecutor Wasiq Malik informed the court that a partial charge sheet had already been submitted. “With the inclusion of two new suspects, we will submit a complete charge sheet instead of a supplementary one,” he said.

When asked how much time was required, Malik sought 10 to 15 days to finalise the document. The court directed the FIA to submit the complete charge sheet against Imran Khan and others by March 5 and granted interim bail to Siraj Ahmed and Faisal Qazi until that date.

The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for March 5.

In August 2022, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued its verdict in the prohibited funding case—formerly referred to as the foreign funding case—ruling that PTI had received prohibited funding.

The ECP stated that the party had “knowingly and willfully” received $2.12 million from Wootton Cricket Limited, a company operated by businessman Arif Naqvi, and described PTI as a “willing recipient” of the funds.

According to the commission, 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 it said were in violation of Pakistani laws.

PTI has consistently denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the funds were legitimate contributions from overseas Pakistanis and did not amount to illegal or prohibited funding.