Earlier, Imran had revealed the names of the key players who allegedly orchestrated a plan to rig the May 2013 elections.
Sethi’s rebuttal
Najam Sethi refuted the PTI chief’s claims by saying that becoming the head of the cricket board was a “punishment” rather than a reward for him.
“Imran has implied several times that as CM Punjab I helped rig 35 seats. Yet he has never given any proof of this,” he said.
Sethi said that Imran’s allegation that sweeping changes were made in the Punjab administration when he was the caretaker chief minister is baseless. He claims that 28 out of the 30 secretaries were altered.
The former PCB chairman said Imran should admit that at every stage of the caretaker administration he responded to the PTI’s complaints with neutrality.
“Imran would rather have others believe that the elections were stolen from him rather than admitting defeat,” he said.
Defamation notice
Sethi has also filed a defamation suit against PTI chief Imran Khan seeking damages of Rs100 crore. An additional district and sessions judge will hear preliminary arguments in the proceedings today (Wednesday).
The former PCB chairman dismissed the charge, saying PTI could not substantiate the same. “These are baseless accusations that purposely distort facts in an effort to defame me,” he said.
No proof of the allegations has been provided. Sethi served a legal notice on February 17 to the PTI chief asking him to present cogent, relevant and admissible evidence of the alleged conversation between the plaintiff and the PML-N leadership to establish the veracity of the allegation of 35 “punctures” – an allusion to poll cheating. Imran was also given the option of issuing an apology for his “malicious and scandalous remarks”. The PTI chief neither provided any proof nor responded to the notice.
The former PCB chief asked the court to permanently restrain Imran from defaming him and tender an apology. Furthermore, he wants the PTI chief to pay Rs300,000 as general damages and another Rs100 crore as special damages.
Flurry of reactions
Chaudhry Iftikhar rejected the PTI chief’s allegations. He said that Imran has levelled such allegations in frustration. The former CJP intends to take the matter to court.
Justice Ramday condemned the allegations as being “laughable” and wholly unsubstantiated.
“Such statements don’t suit a person like Imran Khan,” he said. “The Supreme Court does not have any link with the provincial courts and it is the high courts that have the authority to supervise lower courts.”
He added that he had retired in 2011 and was not involved in the matter. Justice Ramday also denied the charge that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took orders from him or ever sought his advice.
Justice (retd) Riaz Kayani – who has served as member of the Election Commission of Pakistan – said Imran’s allegations against him depict ‘white lies’.
“I can only sympathise with the electorate who voted him into the National Assembly. Imran may have stood tall in the game of cricket, but he has reduced himself to a midget in politics by levelling such allegations against me,” he said.
Justice Kayani said he had neither been a legal adviser to the Sharif brothers nor represented them in court.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th,2014.
COMMENTS (43)
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@Jameel: You must be referring to Imran Khan (establishment's troll-in-chief) as the entire purpose of Imran Khan's existence is accusatory finger-pointing.
The 4 Thief's who robbed the Elections 2013.
Let's say that Imran Khan's allegations are true. But in the absence of evidence, should he be launching attacks against them? Isn't that contradictory to his statements after Hamid Mir got shot when he attacked GEO for levelling allegations without evidence?
My hunch is, that Imran Khan is basing his statements on hearsay. If that's the case, he should at least be cognizant of the bad precedent that he is setting. Labelling respected journalists and senior judges as corrupt and immoral without proof should not be accepted as the new norm. The consequences of crossing this line will not be pretty.
Imran’s allegations are baseless, and no acceptable evidence is presented as a proof. People favoring him are in leadership illusions. Just sympathy for them. Imran do not want any inquiry. he has been doing this for the success of his useless distractive March. He wants to be PM of Pakistan before age of 72.
@Khalid Malik: Who is Arsalan Chaudhry? Just a petty thief!
@Ozair: this is the only un fortunate country of the world whose elder are cheat.
this country will remain un fortunate till our elders remain dishonest.
@Raju: Spoken like a true troll whose entire purpose of existence is accusatory finger-pointing. The entire futility of your existence cannot be put in words. Regards.
I can trust Najim Sethi.... but other three cannot be trusted. They should be thoroughly investigated for their vested interests and alleged role in rigging
Mr. Najam Sethi. If it was a punishment why you took it again & again?????
@Jameel: It is you who is a paid troll along with the sea-of-adverse opinion making colleagues of yours.
Your reporter and the drafter have done a good job by their selection of the words and pics of these "ex functionaries". It is the likes of such functionaries who make the nation look ugly.
@Dilshad:
you meant disgrace. Probably the most corrupt ex-CJ in the history of the world.
The TOP FOUR beneficiaries would certainly try and prove their loyalty towards Nawaz Sharif.
IK is not rigged by these dudes but by his facebook trolls majority of whom have no interest in voting for him but hit the like button on everything related to IK.
Najamd Sethi Sahab, if that was punishment, why didn't you just resign and went home ?
Except for some honourable Judges, the list of sold outs is long and unending.
This man is mentally retarted. Even Hashmi last night left the tsunami march and went to Multan
@Haseeb: @Rao Mukhtar: Two paid trolls in a sea of adverse opinion. Life must be tough for you these days.
Obviously they are not going to say they are "GUILTY" until they become "extraordinary rendition" candidates.
During election PPP sponsored an ad in which a CM is making a call to a Justice (brother of an MNA of south Lahore). CM was forwarding the message of his big brother, telling the judge you need to give this verdict in this case. Everything is happening after all this is Pakistan.
I think IK should be immediately admitted to some mental hospital.
Imran, I listened your press conference. Give evidences to the nation. In the absence of evidence, I believe you are telling a lie.
Mr Sethi, you say it was punishment, Would you tell us how much did you earned during that punishment period and why didi you go to court to get the punishment job back when you were temoved from punishing job.
Imran never speaks truth. Justice Iftikhar is pride of Pakistan.
When will Imran respond to Arsalan Iftikhar's questions. Shame for Imran Khan.
@Haseeb: Best Chief Justice? Seriously?
These people (and their supporters) bring down the collective IQ of Pakistan into the negatives.
It is well known that each of these 'ex-functionaries' were substantially obliged by Nawaz & co AFTER the elections. This is strong circumstantial evidence. Sufficient to start proceedings but who will 'bell the cat'?
PCB to Najam Sethi, Balochistan Investment Board (and Reko Diq - Pakistan's most valuable mineral resource) to son of Iftikhar Chaudhry... Such posts were awarded in return for personal favors as there is no evidence of merit in these and any other appointments made by this Government.
The men who stole our votes!!!
Shame for Imran who has blamed the best Chief Justice in the history of Pakistan. Imran, where is the evidence? It is very easy to blame others in speeches and press conference.
It's natural that every culprit will definitely deny about his misdoing.
He says PCB Chairman is a punishment... Make me chariman I agree to accept this punishment.
All four of them should be tried under article six.
When in the world, a thief and a criminal accepts his guilt. Only if they had an iota of shame.
When french monarchy days were numbered, they were still in disbelieve and stonewalled any notion that implied them as corrupt. I hope that episode is not repeated here but the fact remains, if people who rigged 2013 election to bring an incompetent govt are not put on trial, this march movement wont fly away easily. Two biggest mistakes of my life: Trusting Altaf bhai in my early years of youth and supporting Ex-CJP. Former i know was going to be a disappointment but latter turned out to be a total sell out. We shoulda thrown weight behind Musharraf when he filed reference against Ex-CJP
The ex judiciary should not be worried. Imran is habitual of telling lies. I have never seen him speaking truth. Imran is a qualified Liar.
What else is expected from these people? Anyone expect them to admit their involvement in rigging the elections?
If NS was not involved then why he did not investigate the allegation and get some heads rolling at EC?
then why all of them were rewarded by MNS after the election
All of these people have lost credibility and respect among the masses. Very sad to see them selling their conscience
Thief does not say that he is a thief. Time and again Judiciary and Bureaucracy has proved that they have malicious nexus with PMLn in Punjab and Islamabad. Free and fair investigation can prove who is right and who is wrong in this case.