An eight-page proposal has been presented by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the government’s negotiating team in a bid to end the political impasse between the PML-N government and protesters in Islamabad.
The proposal, exclusively obtained by The Express Tribune, proposes a two-step process to address rigging allegations in the 2013 elections.
“In Phase I of this process, the complaints must be investigated by a fully empowered and independent judicial commission.”
Phase II of the process entails actions to be taken “in the event” the judicial commission’s findings affirm rigging claims.
Further, the PTI demands that the judicial commission should comprise three judges of the Supreme Court led by the chief justice of Pakistan. “It should be vested with full investigative power and authority,” the document adds.
The primary function and task of the judicial commission would be to undertake an independent investigation into rigging allegations and it will have to submit it within 30 days, a legally binding and enforceable final report.
The PTI has also called for the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) under the supervision of the judicial commission to operate as its “investigative arm.”
The JIT should comprise senior officers of government investigative agencies, such as Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) among others.
“The composition of the JIT shall be balanced and it shall be headed by a senior officer of unblemished repute and integrity to whose appointment the PTI has ‘no objection’,” the document read.
Further, with the formation of the JIT, the PTI demanded the replacement of the current chiefs of Nadra and FIA as well as the secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
“The JC must submit a final report of its ‘findings’ and conclusions no later than thirty days after its constitution and the said report shall be made a public document.”
The PTI also underlined the procedure for a test to determine if rigging occurred. The test includes the JC reporting the manner in which Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members were appointed and any changes in locations or appointments at polling stations.
The PTI also demanded that along with a signed agreement between PTI and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the prime minister and the cabinet must publicly announce a guarantee to heed by the conditions and demands mentioned in this proposal if rigging is proven.
Further, the PTI also demands that the prime minister should resign while the judicial commission proceeds with its findings.
“The resignation of the incumbent prime minister would establish bona fides of the prime minister and of the political party he heads. It would also allow Parliament to continue in the greater national interest and for consolidating the transition to parliamentary democracy.”
PTI also demanded that a supreme monitoring council be formed after the resignation of the prime minister to ensure an ‘independent’ and ‘objective’ investigation by the judicial commission.
Additionally, in case rigging is proven, as alleged by the PTI, the proposal demands that the prime minister advises the president to dissolve the National Assembly under Article 58(1) of the Constitution.
“The president shall appoint a care-taker cabinet and prime minister under the Constitution, the composition of which must reflect the intent and will to undertake and complete the necessary electoral reforms prior to the fresh elections.”
“General elections must be held under a reconstituted and non-controversial Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) appointed in consultation and with ‘no objection’ of PTI.”
A copy of the proposal obtained by our correspondent Peer Muhammad can be viewed here:
COMMENTS (30)
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Obviously the demands are extreme. If you want to truly change the politics of a country and rid it of corruption, you have to uproot the system. It does matter what party is doing it or what party is the corrupt one, if Pakistan wants change it will have to endure the sacrifices of the economy and the people. Let me know the last time you ever witnessed a revolution in a nation that was 100% calm, collected and peaceful.
@Abdul: You are right my dear brother the Indian politicians are not angles and there is not a big difference between the people of the two countries but one thing I may tell you that the politicians and political parties are always worried about the watchful eyes of the Election Commission and the people also respects the Election Commission for conducting free and fare elections in the previous elections the ballot machines were opened after 21 days from the first round of elections. Yes some incedents of violence are there inspite of fool proof security.
@sterry: PPP and PML-N came back into power because an illegal NRO was signed. How do you say it was first democratic transition of power? And PPP's performance was evident that you mainly have crooks in Parliament. Protests, instablity was already projected by some analysts. PPP's tenure had brought Pakistan to the brink of collapse and nothing more can be expected of Nawaz. He shares same corruption genes with PPP and Nawaz League's history is evident.
If PMLN accepts this proposal they are doomed irrespective of wether they were responsible for rigging or not , wether it benefitted them in the volume that it would make them losers and PTI winners or not. It does not call for investigating how rigging actually happens nor it call s for complete audit to determine the volume of rigging. And how NS was personally involved in fake votes and fake counting results. It just talks about peripheries. I am sure any commission will say that irregularities occurred and they would be right. It happen died in every elections and much more so in previous ones. But will it be fair to punish Ns for it. Absolutely not. I think PTI is running away from the real audit as they know it will not come out in their favour.
@unbelievable I think you are confusing resignation with dissolution of the parliament. Yes pmln has the majority and unless rigging is proven assembly shouldn't be dissolved. In politics perception is reality and NS has done a very good job of convincing everyone that he doesn't believe in the rule of law ( his attack on supreme court in 99, model town, murder of protesters in Islamabad and numerous other instances). To placate the opposition and prove he is innocent step aside for 30 days and let an independent inquiry take place. I honestly don't think this is a big deal , happens in all western democracies where there is true democracy.
@Omer: Sounds like nonsensical demands from a party that has no moral authority to ask for anything. The level of writing and the demands sound like nothing but childishness from a sore loser who has no respect for institutions and democracy.
@Shahid Ijaz: Well obviously its written like that, they tried to make it easy to read for those illiterates out there w/o making it seem too easy. :P
Have you seen Roshan Pakistan for the last decades as claimed by NS but you think 1 year is enough time for PTI in kpk. I see a change! As an expat I paid for a project online at Tameer e school progress in April when it was launched by IK, one month ago , project was completed and completed project pictures uploaded onto the website, this is change!transparency! @Shahid Ijaz:
What kind of childish comment is this. They are requesting investigation as aggrieved party , not asking to be made PM@Zain:
They have been demanding this from the beginning and is as fair as it can be. Not listening to them and using force has brought it to this point. Give one rational argument against this proposal!@sterry:
Given that PTI and PAT have both tried and failed to overthrow the parliament by force, they should now by treated not as political entities but as criminal organizations and their leaders charged with treason. As for this PTI proposal, it belongs in the trash can. All democracies strive to become "more perfect democracies", and Pakistan is no exception. Pakistani political parties that stood united in defense of democracy dont need any lessons from the likes of Imran Khan on how to improve the election process or anything else.
Imran should realize that PM's resignation can not be a goal in itself. He should see beyond it and try to achieve the real objective of rectifying the situation. In order to make naya Pakistan he may have to pay the price by selling his ego.
Making a mechanism for handing complaints is easy, and perhaps, a step in the right direction. What is really needed is an independent constitutional body, such as "election commission of India", which is in charge of conducting elections in a bipartisan and fare manner.
I don't think politicians in India are any less corrupt, or people any different. The scale of elections is at least 10 times bigger. Yet, the elections are smooth and they have been clean for the last 20 years.
The credit goes to the system there. Election commission is an autonomous, bipartisan body, with full administrative powers. During the elections they control entire administrative and security machinery. They ensure fairness by making the process more transparent, and yet raise a whip when breaches occur. They have well-defined rules that are followed. Their strictness could be judged by the fact that Modi had an FIR against him for taking a selfie near the polling booth with his party symbol.
A democracy is a democracy even if it is a sham. A vote is a vote even if it's forged. Is just like that famous quote from our illustrious politician still sat in Parliament, a degree is a degree even if it's forged.
For those graduating on forged certificates it may make sense to support the present set-up built on forged votes but for the rest of us, the lesser mortals, please explain to us can a building stand on forged foundations?
@Asad Malik: One day you'll understand that democracy means that an elected government has the mandate to speak and act on behave of the nation. Until Pakistanis grasp this basic fact, the nation will never progress. Democracy is not perfect but it is better than rule by violent protest and army dictatorship.
If current government and its cronies in parliament are honest and sincere to Pakistan, they have nothing to fear. If they were truly elected without fraud/rigging, they will win again and prove that they are really supported by people.
PTI is and was never in a position to put demands. The refusal of the public to vote with its feet has further exposed PTI's weak negotiating position. Even if PTI manges to collect a few thousand mor people given the cajolings and beggings reported today, they are not going to enhance PTI's bargaining power in any significant manner given the repeated silence all over the country in response to Khan's wild and delusional calls for rising up against the system.
Hence, any PTI stalwart worth his or her salt should try to get the Khan out of his delusional state and make him smell the coffee. The earlier PTI disperses after getting the best deal under the circumstances, the better for the party if it is to govern with any moral authority in KPK.
@Omer: What's fair about removing the PM? In case you didn't understand how the process works the political party that wins a super majority gets to select the PM - not the guy who came in 3rd place or the guy who didn't have the guts to run for any office.
Let us start by Imran Khan dissolving his party internal elections were also rigged and he himself accepted about internal election being unfair. Hypocrisy?
By the way, rigging cannot change the 7.7million votes. PTI cannot get even one vote more than those 7.7million albeit rigging reduces their vote count. And if in the re-election IK gets defeated again then what's the penalty for him? Shouldn't he be on trail for creating chaos, wasting time and money of the poor people of Pakistan. What about IDP's? Was it such of a minor issue that Imran neglected those poor people? Pathetic show of hunger for power by Imran Khan
@Asad Malik: Maybe you don't know that the Quaid wanted Pakistan to be a modern democratic state- not a Banana Dictatorship. We have only seen the first peaceful transition of power in Pakistan's history. 5 years of PPP and 1 year of PML N and you want miracles. So typical of developing world people to expect one government to fix everything so fast. No concept of long term development, institutions, process and long term economic goals.
@sterry: What wonders have the past two governments done for the economy? What right do they have to say or do anything in Pakistan?
i think the proposal is worth to be considered by the Government and Media, and the so called Intellectuals of the Media.
I think it will be a at achievement of the democracy if the said proposal was accepted by the government and Backed by the forces or supporter of the democracy, i mean all political leaders.
Quite thorough, but not quite sure the govt. committee will even bother to read it
I would ignore anything that PTI or PAT say or demand. Their behavior does not warrant any response. After all they damage they did to the economy, they lose the right to comment on anything in Pakistan.
The language of these papers look like as some student of intermediate class has written this demand paper. There must be some logical reality in demands. Section 4.2 of demand....upon which SMC PTI will be agreed? Same had happened in Election, you were agreed upon SMC of Fakruddin Ibrahim. Suppose if SMC is formed then what is the surety that you will accept this report. You must be logical enough now to accept your defeat. If you get even 20 more seats in parliament this will not make your government. So better is to make Naya KPK firstly, i have not seen anything NEW is KPK till now. So, better is to prove yourself good leader over there then come towards capital in 2018 !
The rest seems fine, but PM/Cabinet resignation is childish demand. Another PM from PMLN will arrive and will serve their party purpose. Remember AZ was not PM and he still had great influence on PPP govt.
Why not just demand that Imran Khan be made Chief Executive for forever, like Pervez Musharraf was? If rigging as defined by them is proven ipso facto (not traditional burden of evidential proof) in constituencies selected by them, while their selected executive functions, then their selected caretaker to oversee elections to make sure PTI wins?
This script is from August 30th. What happens when they change the script again?
sounds like a fair demand. The government should accept it and move forward. Too much time has been wasted on this issue.