Rigging probe: Political Jirga creates TORs for commission
Jirga mediating between govt and 2 protesting parties puts forward fresh proposals in effort to break stalemate
ISLAMABAD:
The political Jirga mediating between the government and the two protesting parties on Friday put forward fresh proposals in an effort to break the stalemate in talks. Members of the Jirga deliberated on the definition of ‘rigging’ and proposed seven ‘terms of reference (TORs)’ for a proposed judicial commission that will investigate allegations of rigging in the 2013 elections.
On Thursday, the Jirga proposed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must announce that he would resign if the commission proves ‘systematic rigging’ in the elections. According to the TORs, the commission will investigate pre-election rigging, rigging on the day of polling, post-election manipulation, the role played by the caretaker government in any rigging and those responsible, the role of the Election Commission in the rigging, any conspiracy wherein the PML-N or Nawaz Sharif is found guilty of any rigging and the by-product of the said rigging.
Members of the Jirga, whose only role is to facilitate talks between the government, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek, sent a four-page letter with these suggestions to the three stakeholders on Friday. “It is proposed that both parties [PTI and the government] may agree to a reasonable timeline to complete the investigation as per the Constitution,” the letter states.
The Jirga suggested that all PAT workers or leaders arrested after June 23 must be released immediately. The letter stated that PAT’s negotiations with the government broke down after a member of the PAT negotiations team was arrested.
The demand regarding ‘national reforms’ should be met in letter and spirit and as agreed the national reforms council should be constituted with immediate effect, to be headed by a dignitary with impeccable integrity and experience, and with the mutual consent of PAT and the government, the letter added.
Regarding calls for the resignation of Shahbaz Sharif, the Jirga proposed that the issue can be dealt with amicably if Shahbaz may reaffirm his earlier public statement in the Punjab Assembly. “He [Shahbaz Sharif] will resign as Chief Minister of Punjab, if he is proven guilty by the JIT constituted as a part of mutual agreement between PAT and the government,” stated the letter. The Jirga also recommended that no further political cases against PAT or PTI workers shall be registered, as this harms the process of negotiations.
The core issue between the three stakeholders is the demand for the PM’s resignation by the PTI and the Punjab CM’s resignation by PAT.
Finally, the Jirga appealed to the three stakeholders to conclude their respective mutual agreements based on the proposals given by the Jirga.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2014.
The political Jirga mediating between the government and the two protesting parties on Friday put forward fresh proposals in an effort to break the stalemate in talks. Members of the Jirga deliberated on the definition of ‘rigging’ and proposed seven ‘terms of reference (TORs)’ for a proposed judicial commission that will investigate allegations of rigging in the 2013 elections.
On Thursday, the Jirga proposed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must announce that he would resign if the commission proves ‘systematic rigging’ in the elections. According to the TORs, the commission will investigate pre-election rigging, rigging on the day of polling, post-election manipulation, the role played by the caretaker government in any rigging and those responsible, the role of the Election Commission in the rigging, any conspiracy wherein the PML-N or Nawaz Sharif is found guilty of any rigging and the by-product of the said rigging.
Members of the Jirga, whose only role is to facilitate talks between the government, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek, sent a four-page letter with these suggestions to the three stakeholders on Friday. “It is proposed that both parties [PTI and the government] may agree to a reasonable timeline to complete the investigation as per the Constitution,” the letter states.
The Jirga suggested that all PAT workers or leaders arrested after June 23 must be released immediately. The letter stated that PAT’s negotiations with the government broke down after a member of the PAT negotiations team was arrested.
The demand regarding ‘national reforms’ should be met in letter and spirit and as agreed the national reforms council should be constituted with immediate effect, to be headed by a dignitary with impeccable integrity and experience, and with the mutual consent of PAT and the government, the letter added.
Regarding calls for the resignation of Shahbaz Sharif, the Jirga proposed that the issue can be dealt with amicably if Shahbaz may reaffirm his earlier public statement in the Punjab Assembly. “He [Shahbaz Sharif] will resign as Chief Minister of Punjab, if he is proven guilty by the JIT constituted as a part of mutual agreement between PAT and the government,” stated the letter. The Jirga also recommended that no further political cases against PAT or PTI workers shall be registered, as this harms the process of negotiations.
The core issue between the three stakeholders is the demand for the PM’s resignation by the PTI and the Punjab CM’s resignation by PAT.
Finally, the Jirga appealed to the three stakeholders to conclude their respective mutual agreements based on the proposals given by the Jirga.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2014.