Senator Rehman Malik. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Malik stated during a press conference at his residence in Islamabad on Sunday. Malik said parliament has the right to oversee the elections therefore the committee was nominated by the Senate to supervise general elections 2018 and its security.
He said committee so far has held seven meetings to observe the general elections out of which four were held before July 25 and three after it.
During the meetings security arrangements on the polling day were reviewed and considered the complaints regarding the irregularities on elections day, he added.
In this regard, the committee had submitted second progress report to the upper house enlisting all the components and progress achieved so far, Malik added.
He further said the committee would again meet soon to review the reports of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), Cabinet Division and all other stakeholders regarding complaints and reservations of political parties, media on free, fair, and transparent and security of general elections.
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Senator Malik said the Senate Standing Committee on Interior had done great job by investigating the complaints technically as “we have completed almost 80 per cent of the work and are working day and night on it”.
He added it would continue the parliamentary investigations as the committee is very much concerned about the failure of Result Transmission System (RTS) and other irregularities reported.
Moreover, the committee has sorted out reports from ECP on very specific points, Malik said and read the terms of references (ToRs) before the media as under on which the committee would continue to probe further.
“These ToRs include, the cause of the delay in elections results, the failure of RTS, which reportedly remained out of order for a considerable time creating doubts in public, was there any assurance from Service Provider for accurate functioning of the RTS/ Result Management System (RMS)? And has the technical team, the service provider and the IT department of the ECP evaluated or detected any hacking or virus attempt on the RTS/RMS?”
The responsibility being fixed against those who were responsible for uninterrupted and smooth functioning of the RTS/RMS, is another TOR, Malik highlighted.
Malik shared that the committee has also sent letters to various stakeholders to ascertain the exact reasons which led to chaos and controversies on the legitimacy of elections.
Letter on the RTS and RMS was sent to ECP on July 26, and in its compliance, the ECP sent a letter to Cabinet Division on August 2, to hold an inquiry on failure of both systems.
Separate letters on discovery of stamped ballot papers from dustbins, roadsides and other public places were also written to the IGPs and home secretaries of all the provinces on August 6, which would be reviewed in the upcoming meeting of the committee.
The committee chairman stated the entire findings and observations of the committee is the preliminary inquiry.
This probe is parliamentary duly authority by the Senate through a letter on July 12, by the Senate Secretariat on direction of the Senate Chairman on the floor of the house. He added the Parliamentary Probe Committee was consisting of 18 senators.
The committee has worked very hard for compilation of the preliminary report, Malik stressed.
Furthermore the report shall be made public once it is placed before the House, he added.
Malik highly appreciated law enforcement agencies for maintaining peace and law and order on Election Day across the country.
Malik also briefed the media about the mysterious death of three sisters who were found dead in Cholistan and said the committee has ordered formation of high powered joint investigation team (JIT) headed by Police officer of Additional IGP rank which is investigating the murder and would submit the report to the committee in six weeks.
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Meanwhile the committee has appointed the coordinating committee under the supervision of Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad to supervise the case.
Malik announced Rs2.5 million as reward whoever helps the JIT or coordinating committee about the culprits involved in the heinous crime of murdering three sisters.
Answering to a question, Malik said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mindset is well exposed by the Indian media that is furious over Navjot Singh Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan.
He added unfortunately India couldn’t even tolerate a single former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan who came here to attend oath taking ceremony of his friend Imran Khan.
He said our (Pakistanis) hearts are open as four-member delegation from Pakistan led by Caretaker law and information minister Syed Ali Zafar attended last rites of former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi.
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