KARACHI: After making revelations that threw Pakistani politics into yet another tailspin, former Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) official Afzal Khan has been served a legal notice by Justice (retired) Riaz Kayani, one of the former ECP officials Afzal accused of being part of the rigging process.
The allegations by Khan implicated an entire cadre of judges, journalists, and election officials to be part of the alleged rigging in the general elections last year.
In a three-page notice delivered by his lawyer Saleem Shahnazi, the document accused Afzal of making "wild" and "false" accusations against Kayani, and demanded an immediate public apology, or damages worth Rs20 million.
On August 25, Afzal Khan claimed that former Supreme Court chief justices Iftikhar Chaudhry and Tassaduq Jillani, justices Ramday and Kayani, and former chief election commissioner Fakhruddin Ibrahim were all responsible for the alleged rigging.
Kayani responded immediately to the allegations and staged a press conference in which he denied the allegations, calling them a "bare-faced lie".
“Had I known that I would be maligned like this, that I would be aligned to a party – had I known, I would have never have come[to the ECP],” he said.
The notice said the allegations have caused "injury to the reputation, honour and dignity" of Kayani.
It also stated that Afzal Khan implicated him only because Kayani refused Afzal Khan's promotion.
Compiled by Saim Saeed, with additional reporting by Irfan Ghauri.
COMMENTS (9)
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There should be short cut, summary trial with no right of appeal and finally punishment - whipping in all major citis of each province including KPK
@Sara: Don't be judgmental. Who ever is on the wrong must be punished. Both these people had lot of authority vested in them by the public. One of them is surely wrong. We must travel the extra mile to make sure the wrong is punished. Let not the public servants become kings. Once they have done wrong no mercy must be shown to them.
@Shahid
When someone ignites and sparks chaotic behavior in the system, he/she should be brought to trail. Its not a school debate that can be neglected rather those involved in heinous crime pf deceit and immoral activities, like Afzal Khan should be brought to trail
It would be a match worth playing only in case the honorable Justice (R) Riaz also decides a punishment for himself if Mr Muhammad Afzal Khan is proven right.
Afzal khan merely gave his opininon and cleraed in the begening he has no proofs to prove it.Every body has the right to express his opinion. If justice kiyani has not done any wrong his feelings should not get hurt.
Lets say if, and its a big "if", rigging does get prove then every senior officer should be sent a billion ruppee notice for bringing shame to the country, deceiving public, stealing public mandate, not reporting rigging and being negligible during their duties. Because the defamation notices are becoming a joke in this country and it won't be long when the accuser would send the accused a defamatory notice for maligning his name too.
One thing is clear that who ever talked justice Fakhruddin Ibrahim to head the ECP had an agenda and knew fully well that he was 82 years old and was not up to this rigorous job of being a chief election commissioner. No doubt that justice Ibrahim is a decent, honest and God fearing person but his age had lot to do with his performance. We know that elections has been rigged since 1970s and those involved now thought it being a routine and did not understand that times has changed and there would be consequences, political as well as economic repercussions. By the way Pakistanis are not that dumb or naïve people who could be convinced that judiciary is up and up and they do understand that these very people also come from the same society which has been thoroughly corrupted and every one wants to get rich overnight. I will wish good luck to justice Riaz Kayani to collect Rs.20million and say one can't squeeze blood out of a Turnip.
Afzal Khan to Retired justice: Apologise to nation and be witness of rigged elections.
Kayani says had he known..........is enough to determine his involvement. So he thought he would get away since so many of his big guns were also in.