Former CJP to sue Imran Khan over rigging allegations

According to sources a notice is almost ready to be sent to Imran Khan.

ISLAMABAD:
Former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has decided to adopt legal course against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for hurling serious allegations—rigging in general elections 2013—against him.

A close aide of Iftikhar Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that former top judge has made his mind to sue Khan for dragging him in the controversy without any evidence. “A notice is almost ready to be sent to Imran Khan, “a family member of former chief justice confided to The Express Tribune.

Iftikhar Chaudhry, who retired from in December last year, has decided to establish a think-tank-cum consultancy firm.

During last days of his tenure as top judge, Chaudhry also served a contempt notice to PTI chief for terming the returning officers’ role in the general elections as “sharamnaak”. In the recent past, Imran Khan many times alleged that former chief justice is responsible for rigging in general election 2013. While addressing a rally to mark his party’s 18th Founding Day anniversary the PTI chief said the Chaudhry was involved in match fixing of May 11, 2013. He had also alleged that Iftikhar Chaudhry chaired a meeting of returning officers prior to the elections.


PTI chief had demanded that those who are involved in election rigging should be exposed and put on trial under Article 6 of the Constitution.

Terming Imran Khan’s allegations as baseless, the former chief justice said that a chief justice has nothing to do with general elections. It was Election Commission of Pakistan’s duty to appoint Returning Officers to perform election duties, said Iftikhar Chaudhry. "Leveling the accusations without evidence is not appropriate. Bring proof on this count."

He underlined that correspondence with election commission and returning officers and the record bear testimony that there was no pressure whatsoever from judiciary on election commission.

While addressing a gathering held in the memory of those martyred in Islamabad F-8 Kachehri blast, former top judge said, “I don’t like to comment on anyone’s senseless views,” he said, adding that the 'absurd' allegations hurled by the PTI chief did not warrant a response from him.

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