Can't work around Max Execution Time exceeded error while importing Wordpress Theme Unit Testing Data

I was trying to import the Wordpress Theme Unit Testing Data when this error occured and its driving me nuts.

Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 60 seconds exceeded in E:\WebServer\w3programmers\wp-includes\class-http.php on line 1511

List of things I've tried:

1. Changed the max_execution_time to a hour! in the php.ini


2. Changed it to unlimited (0)


3. Changed it in my htaccess file


4. Tried Changing it with set_time_limit() in the config file


5. Tried Changing it with ini_set()


6. Tried using this plugin WP Maximum Execution Time Exceeded

Nothing works. I even tried running the import from the Command Line using the WP-Cli tool. Yes, even the cli failed with the same error. I checked by echoing the return value of ini_get("max_execution_time") at the start of my config file. and yes, it does output the value I set in the php.ini and other places.

I thought the PHP was hardcoded to allow limitless execution time in the cli. Is this a PHP Bug? or a Wordpress Bug?

I'm using XAMPP on Windows. PHP 5.5.11.