Former CJP to sue Imran Khan over rigging allegations

According to sources a notice is almost ready to be sent to Imran Khan.


Azam Khan July 06, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has decided to adopt legal course against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for hurling serious allegations—rigging in general elections 2013—against him.

A close aide of Iftikhar Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that former top judge has made his mind to sue Khan for dragging him in the controversy without any evidence. “A notice is almost ready to be sent to Imran Khan, “a family member of former chief justice confided to The Express Tribune.

Iftikhar Chaudhry, who retired from in December last year, has decided to establish a think-tank-cum consultancy firm.

During last days of his tenure as top judge, Chaudhry also served a contempt notice to PTI chief for terming the returning officers’ role in the general elections as “sharamnaak”. In the recent past, Imran Khan many times alleged that former chief justice is responsible for rigging in general election 2013. While addressing a rally to mark his party’s 18th Founding Day anniversary the PTI chief said the Chaudhry was involved in match fixing of May 11, 2013. He had also alleged that Iftikhar Chaudhry chaired a meeting of returning officers prior to the elections.

PTI chief had demanded that those who are involved in election rigging should be exposed and put on trial under Article 6 of the Constitution.

Terming Imran Khan’s allegations as baseless, the former chief justice said that a chief justice has nothing to do with general elections. It was Election Commission of Pakistan’s duty to appoint Returning Officers to perform election duties, said Iftikhar Chaudhry. "Leveling the accusations without evidence is not appropriate. Bring proof on this count."

He underlined that correspondence with election commission and returning officers and the record bear testimony that there was no pressure whatsoever from judiciary on election commission.

While addressing a gathering held in the memory of those martyred in Islamabad F-8 Kachehri blast, former top judge said, “I don’t like to comment on anyone’s senseless views,” he said, adding that the 'absurd' allegations hurled by the PTI chief did not warrant a response from him.

COMMENTS (108)

Rawalpindi Kid | 9 years ago | Reply

I don't support Iftikhar Chaudhry and think he has done great harm to the country, first by trying to disqualify Musharraf, and then helping PMLN come into power through rigged elections by standing by. But when will Imran Khan realize he is wrong on so many important decisions? He was wrong for supporting Iftikhar Chaudhry in the lawyers movement, he was wrong for not taking military action against the terrorists, he was wrong for not supporting Tahir Quadri when he foretold elections would be rigged. I seriously question if he is good for Pakistan because he cannot make the right decisions.

Rawalpindi Kid | 9 years ago | Reply

IK should apologize to Musharraf. Iftikhar Chaudhry had similar allegations against him and his son during Musharraf's time that resulted in a reference against IC, and IK supported the movement that led to Iftikhar Chaudhry's reinstatement. Now when all those allegations are proven correct and hurting IK he is crying fowl. At minimum an apology to Musharraf is warranted with an acknowledgement that Musharraf's signing of reference against Iftikhar Chaudhry was correct.

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