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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday to issue its "long-delayed judgement" in the prohibited funding case involving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The premier made these remarks on his official Twitter account, defending his statement by saying that former Prime Minister and PTI chief Imran Khan has "been given a pass despite his repetitive and contemptible attacks on state institutions."

He alleged that the "impunity granted to him has harmed the country."

The case, previously known as the "foreign funding case", was opened in March 2018, while the ECP has reserved its judgement since June 2022.

On November 14, 2014, Akbar S Babar, a founding but outcasted leader of the PTI, filed the case after disagreements with the party chairman over internal abuse and corruption of laws governing political funding.

The petitioner claimed that nearly $3 million in unauthorised foreign funds were retrieved through two offshore companies registered under Imran"s signature and transferred to PTI employees" accounts via illegal "hundi" channels from the Middle East.

He also claimed that the foreign account holders used to obtain financing were hidden from the ECP"s annual audit reports.

In March 2018, a special committee was established to investigate the situation. The committee included two officers from ECP"s director-general law wing as well as auditor general office.

After an eight-year wait, the electoral watchdog announced on June 21, 2022, that it had successfully finished the hearing on the foreign funding case and reserved its verdict.

The commission heard the case 95 times, and its scrutiny committee met 96 times.

On the event, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja stated that democracy is critical to the country and must be strengthened.

He went on to say that it was critical to reestablish voter trust, and that the ECP will indeed ensure that everybody received justice.

The CEC expressed his support to both parties, saying he had learned a lot from them.

"The cases of many other [political] stakeholders will be finalised soon." "We will make certain that no one is subjected to discrimination," he added.