Pakistan

Probing May 2013 elections: PTI, govt agree on forming judicial commission

Everybody is a winner, no one is a loser and ultimately democracy would benefit from it, says Qureshi

Web Desk March 20, 2015

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar addressing a press conference on Friday.

ISLAMABAD: After months of tussle between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led federal government, the two on Friday agreed on the terms of reference for forming a judicial commission to investigate allegations of rigging during the May 2013 general elections, Express News reported.

Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, flanked by PTI vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and PTI General Secretary Jahangir Tareen, announced the formation of the judicial commission during a press conference in Islamabad.

Terming the agreement a positive step towards strengthening democracy and ensuring transparency of elections, Qureshi said, “Everybody is a winner, no one is a loser and ultimately democracy would benefit from it."

He added that both sides had shown flexibility.

Dar said that they had all agreed, in-principle, to form the commission last December, but the only sticking point was the wording of the agreement, which has now been solved.

He further said PTI negotiating team also showed flexibility and its attitude was positive in sort out differences.

Imran claims victory over formation of judicial commission

Commenting on the formation of judicial commission, PTI chief Imran Khan said the creation of the commission was a victory for the people and democracy, reads a statement issued by the party. He also said the creation of commission is a step towards ending the political mafias and their cohorts who deny people of their mandate through electoral fraud.

“We will now ensure that all evidence of rigging is brought before the JC so that the perpetrators of rigging are exposed and punished,” he added.

Agreement between PTI & PMLN on Judicial Commission reached this evening.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 20, 2015

Following is the scope of the inquiry of judicial commission:

1. The commission shall inquire in to and determine whether or not the may 2013 general elections were organised, conducted impartially, honestly fairly and justly in accordance with law

2. 2013 general elections were manipulated or influenced pursuant to a systematic effort or by design by anyone

3. The results of the 2013 general elections on an overall basis are true and fair reflection of mandate given by the public

COMMENTS (23)

Aftab Hussain | 9 years ago | Reply @raider Bro, we need vision and knowledge to judge any matter not Govt. job, I respect your opinion and my opinion is different that there was no systematic rigging in Punjab. Alas as a nation we are pessimistic, and always blame others rather than personal accountability.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @Aftab Hussain: Judge where do you go for your job, i have been pretty believer from your comments that you have never been in any Govt institution, and i have vast experience to work with, even whole election process, recounting never proves rigging, sanctity of ballot papers indicate rigging the extent and method used. Govt institution works in accordance with incumbent Govt not any law and order. How did you give your verdict that there is nil systematic rigging even in NA 122, 33k votes are without any stamp which is not possible if process of polling enacted there in letter and spirit not just drama

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Aftab Hussain | 9 years ago | Reply @Hasan: Its the majority of people in nation who don't understand politics and just know how to criticize with out knowledge.

Aftab Hussain | 9 years ago | Reply @raider: I dont think so

Aftab Hussain | 9 years ago | Reply I personally believe with moderate confidence that Agreement between PTI and Gov. is win-win situation and beneficial for democracy and future elections, but if you want know point scoring govt win because govt was insisting on wording of "systematic rigging" I personally believe that there was no systematic rigging in general election 2013 and judicial commission will come out with same finding, as it is proved from previous re-counting.

majazi | 9 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: Tabdeeli is not a war to be won or lost, nor is it a person who's defeated or victorious... It is a process...And process is intiated...it gains momentum and loses pace at times.But what you see is a continuous evolution from the point of initiation. Do you notice no change? Do you notice no tabdeeli? Bari ya chhoti,woh aarahi hay aur aati rahegi...InshaAllah

majazi | 9 years ago | Reply He stood up against malpractice for people,backed by people. If people backing him are willing to reconsider their choice, they have everything to lose. It is not IK's fall, it will be fall of people's own coherence, their decisions and their strength... They must understand that it is not PTI vs PMNL, it is People vs their wrongdoer. If people find faults,indulge in blame games, go deterrent... They're not punishing IK, they're crowning Perpetrators of society and the nation. Nothing more could be more disappointing than People undoing their own victory by their own folly.

Napier Mole | 9 years ago | Reply And the fourth secret clause is: "PTI will act as PML's rear flank in the battle to clear Karachi of mqm. For this purpose, PTI assures that it will not open any front while PM is engaged in the 'opening' up of Karachi for the common good of PML and PTI. PTI will remain mum on all human rights abuses and flouting of all democratic and judicial norms in that city. The end, that we both dearly seek, will justify all the means."

Shoaib | 9 years ago | Reply Great work by Imran Khan and PTI

Aschraful Makhlooq | 9 years ago | Reply "Following is the scope of the inquiry of judicial commission: 1. The commission shall inquire in to and determine whether or not the may 2013 general elections were organised, conducted impartially, honestly fairly and justly in accordance with law 2. 2013 general elections were manipulated or influenced pursuant to a systematic effort or by design by anyone 3. The results of the 2013 general elections on an overall basis are true and fair reflection of mandate given by the public" The biggest questions rise here,id est,what are the assurances and guarantees are that 1-Will PML-N and PTI accept the Judicial Commission's report on the rigging in the elections or as usual deny the report? and 2-if suppose Judicial Commissions finds proofs the rigging by PML-N in the May 2013's elections will PML-N's government be dissolved or will go to Supreme Court to challenge the Judicial Commission's report to prove itself innocent and sinless in the rigging and will PTI go to Supreme Court or not for the same purpose like PML-N???

Alia | 9 years ago | Reply So PTI after wasting almost an year during which its member parliaments enjoyed all tge perks and benefits while they did nothing, have agreed to what PMLn was proposing from day one. What losers this PTI is for fooling the people.

Ebaad | 9 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: I would love to see how trolls and Naunehal-e-Tabdeeli would defend this one And I would love to see how Aussie fans would defend Australia's performance in the quarter finals. Fool's paradise is known to echo with chants of shaiirrr. Get a grip please.

Aik_Paki | 9 years ago | Reply I don`t understand all these commentators thinking. You all must praise both PTI an dPML-N who has reaced a consensus on the judicial commission. What do you all wants is a long lasting tension in Pakistan. How can you then fight terrorists if PTI and PML-N continue fighting.

Blithe | 9 years ago | Reply As far as pti goes , all sound and fury signifying nothing . Great move by pmln in putting the pti hypocrites in their place

blue | 9 years ago | Reply Oh I get it, PML know that they are very unpopular with the masses and PTI is a big force so they are blackmailing them, but still it is good progress for the political process.

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply I would love to see how trolls and Naunehal-e-Tabdeeli would defend this one.

Ranjha | 9 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: I have never come across a more empty headed person! Only a true darbari can produce gibberish like this. Well done Naan Siddiqi!

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply And the ultimate winner here is PML-N and Pime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PTI has basically given in to PML-N's scope of this probe, i.e. to ascertain if organized and systematic rigging took place to benefit anyone or influenced by someone. Lo behold, the old hands and the true faces of the status quo Shah Mehmood and Jahaz Taeen ended up selling Niazi down the river. Now the pious, righteous, clean, sagacious and honorable legislators of PTI including hazrat waliullah Niazi Banigala Sharif would beak bread with unclean, corrupt, blood suckers, tax evaders, loan defaulters and money laundering members of the parliament. Nawaz Sharif would now be the leader of the house which has PTI in it as well. If this isn't the defeat of "Tabdeeli" and "Oyee Oyee Syndrome" than I don't know what is. Shairrrrrrrrr!

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply Imran Khan is the biggest hypocrite. He just needed an excuse to allow his MNAs to go back to the parliament after The Speaker noted that their salaries well be stopped.

Hasan | 9 years ago | Reply So Mukk-Mukka? Imran Khan was quick to call all meeting between Zaradai & Nawaz, mukk mukka, what would you call this? Indeed its the nation that has been fooled once again.

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply The PML-N could write a definitive book called ' Procrastination and how its done in politics '.

Kala_bacha | 9 years ago | Reply PTI = PMLN = TTP. Allah Hafiz Pakistan. The cat is out of the bag. Deal is PMLN facilitate Niazi Khan party to grow in Karachi. What a perfect plan from burhay subhay walay.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply Cyber-criminals would certainly looking for feed, likely to feel fed up without news like very this one

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