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.
COMMENTS (37)
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@Mirza: I agree with you and millions of democratic Pakistanis are agree with you...these are the facts.....
@Amitabh Bachan: Excellent!
It is strange ,supreme court accepts crime took place but has no guts to name and convicts the political figures that took the money to change the election results A member of public should start litigation against ,to start with, mr Nawaz shareef
Even today a new kind of establishment is conspiring against PPP It is there for al to see
All these generals should be now tried for high treason and hanged for violation of Constitution.
@Hasnain Ali:
What are you talking about? Unsubstantiated claims only being made by PMLN. PPP never took money from anyone and GIK out of all the people.
@Mirza:
Your PPP led govt is the victim and in power today, so let them investigate further and act as per law...that is what you guy were demanding all these years...your PM and party have appreciated SC order, so what is the problem ?.....by the way your PPP led govt has yet not been able to arrest BB murderer nor have yet investigated nor arrested BB karsaz bombers nor FIR lodged even after 4 years ?
This is a historic verdict. I have now some faith in judiciary. Good job. I believe apology won't do. The culprits, both military officials and politicians, should be banned and the perks n priviliges they enjoy should be taken away and heavy fine should be imposed. I think parliamentary democracy would be strengthened a lot with this verdict. Kudos to the judiciary
Start by apologizing and resigning yourself, for your party came into power by rigging the elections too.
He wants to give birth to a "Say-Sorry" Framework, where after doing anything of any stature everyone can Say-Sorry and then pretending the Sorry is accepted.
The "Say-Sorry" Framework will soon be applied in following areas:
Load Shedding Rental Power Corruption Hajj Corruption NICL Corruption Ephedrine ScandalAnyone is free to Continue the list ...
They'll say SORRY and then tell us on Talkshows that "Hum nay Qaum se maafi maang li"
@Hasnain Ali: Did Mian Nawaz Sharif stand a chance in 1993? How was it rigged? In every fair election, his party was made to lick the dust, as will be in 2013. In fact, he had no future, if there were no IJI in 1990 on the first place.
This is minimum what one expects, but that too Govt wants convicted folks to do, but what about the Government, will it imlement the decision? will Supreme Court ask government to report it back the implimentation of the Asghar Khan case? perhaps we are asking too much.
still this is truely a historic decision, Supreme Court has indeed defied the 'national security' version of the then ISI cheif Hameed Gul who keeps repeating that they formed IJI in the national interests, Supreme Court decision rejected this much beaten up version.
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for years used to say this, but was not heard, finally when she is no more physically with us, history stands on side of her. I feel for countries like, democratic process and system takes lives of its brave sons and daughters but eventually justice will prevail, the then mighty chiefs of Army and ISI now stand alone and discredited, even if government does not initiate against them any thing, the judgement has wider support, and it has put political forces like PML-N in huge trouble. it will be hard for PML-N to defend its leadership.
Thats it?
PM Ashraf is also known throughout Pakistan as "Raja Rental" due to the kickbacks he received in the rental power corruption scandal. Perhaps he should apologise to the nation for that. Question of kettle calling the pot black.
its NS's past and everybody know this and nobody is proud of it. he has repeatedly apologised already. i hope he ll return the money. now we have nawaz sharif who did corruption 22 yrs ago and apoligised and zardari who is doing corruption and proud of it. we have imran khan who is at a stage where nawaz sharif was in 1980s. problem is imran khan is too old to experiment
Those who looted the money in last five years and beyond should appologies also and return the money
Sharif brothers have sought apologies so many times from so many people for so many acts that the word has lost its meaning. They are repeated offenders. They made a huge business empire out of selling their soul to the establishment. Now there is no end to their greed and the arrogance of their family members. what's troubling is that they will never meet judgment.
Mr. Beg, Hamid gul were the firones of their time. They are responsible for the current mess along with their spiritual father, zia ul haq. The nation is suffering from their arrogance. They must be punished and made an example of.
And those who made you PM? how about them :)
PM Sahib wants to promote the culture of "apologizing to the nation and going home safely" as a way to escape the real punishment provided by law because he himself would like to adopt this course of action in the future....this is called "far sightedness" !!!
What about the implementation of Rental Power case by SC wherein inquiry has been ordered again again the then Minister for Water and Power, Pervez Ashraf. Billions have already been recovered in the case. Further, in case of Tauqir Sadiq appointment the same SC has ordered Chairman NAB to initiate inquiry against the appointing committee which was then headed again by Pervez Ashraf.
Didn't PPP won on bogus votes in 2008?
Please put behind bar those were convicted of breaching the constitution, and try them for treason. If even a few top guys are punished severely, in future Army won't think of attempting such acts.
@kami: I am with you and, hopefully all Pakistanis. Regards.
Whole country just talk of apologies but no consequences faced by any high up. This is a simple mutiny and treason case and if we want clean up bring the generals and big hitter politicians and sacrifice them on false pretence of 'greatest army and greatest politicians'. This can bring the country on line and do no excuses" for the nations interest" type things.
The rightwing parties have helped worst dictator Gen Zia to overthrow the elected govt of ZAB and hanged him. Once again the elections were stolen by the army and rightwing parties against PPP and BB. Again her govt was overthrown and finally she was murdered by the rightwing fanatic terrorists during Gen Mush's rule. From ZAB, BB, Taseer, Bhutti, Bugti, and hundreds of ANP and PPP workers and leaders how many times would we ignore these blatant murders by the rightwing supported by the army? In each case not a single murderer is named let alone punished including the latest SC decision. Courts especially SC is the last place for final justice, yet they did not sentence a single culprit even after 16 years and sent the case back to start all over again!
It is evident and proven beyond a doubt that the army stole the elections from the people using people's money and handed over to the rightwing alliance particularly Sharif. If there is a heist then the main culprit is the one who benefitted from the illegal act and punished besides recovering the loot. Here is the case where people looted the elections and looted the govt yet they are not even being singled out let alone punished. All the treasonous acts of army generals in stealing the elections must be brought to justice along with the politicians who fully conspired and benefitted. Their assets must be frozen and all the loot returned to the nation and they all be jailed with hard labor.
Just apology, they should banned for holding any office for life. but it is not known when they will be exposed.
@kami: Nation has already rejected these bigots long ago.
Wel,this is a good demand.But these adament people will never do it.
Apology is nothing and has no meaning for those culprits.. those should be evicted from any form of politics... i pray to almighty make our nation realize what is good for us