Those who rigged 1990 elections should apologise to the nation: Ashraf

Prime Minister vows to take action per law, Constitution against those involved after fair, transparent investigation.

Hours after the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a short order in the Asghar Khan case which declared that the 1990 elections were rigged by the establishment, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf called on all the accused in the case to “apologise to the nation” for “stealing the elections”. But added that these men will be prosecuted as per law after transparent investigations, Express News reported.

Addressing a press conference at the Prime Minister house on Friday evening, Ashraf said that the decision which took over a decade in coming, vindicates the Pakistan Peoples Party, and shows how democracy was murdered.

“One person was not wronged, a couple hundred people were not wronged, not a few thousands were wronged, entire Pakistan was wronged,” Ashraf declared, before demanding that those whose involvement had been exposed, should apologise to the nation.

“Those who talk of democracy, of good governance, there are now some questions before them to answer.”

He recalled the statement of then party chairman Benazir Bhutto that the “establishment had ‘stolen the election and they had run amok’ ad that they had gotten out of control.”

Ashraf, informing of the actions that the government would take to bring the guilty to justice, vowed that while the detailed order is yet to be released, as per the short order, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will investigate the accused in a fair and transparent manner and prosecute them as per law and the Constitution.

“Law will look upon all equally. As Chief Executive, I guarantee that inquiries will be made in a fair and transparent manner, and that every penny shall be recovered,” he said, adding that public funds had been used to rig the elections.

Responding to a question about the award of democracy, the prime minister responded that as per the short order, this was the act of a few individuals and not an organisation. “An organisation was given that award [award of democracy] not to an individual. If you even look at the court order, this is the act of a few individuals.”

He though vowed to bring to light all those who were part of this conspiracy. “Investigations will bring to fore who all were involved in this conspiracy.”

Responding to another question, the premier categorically denied that any political cell was working in the Prime Minsiter house.

In response to another question, Ashraf said that holding free, fair and transparent elections was the biggest challenged that they faced and that appointing a neutral and empowered Chief Election Commissioner was a key to this. He went on to say that the PPP would never rig elections since they were a victim of rigged elections.

You can read the full text of SC's short order here.