Reaching out: Imran Khan proposes way out

Suggests independent commission to probe last year’s elections

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has proposed a way out of the current political impasse through the establishment of a commission comprising Supreme Court judges to look into last year’s general elections.

He was addressing journalists at the residence of Jamaat-e-Islami deputy chief Mian Aslam on Wednesday. The PTI chief held a meeting with JI chief Sirajul Haq to resolve differences and engage in a patch-up between the two parties. Haq seconded Khan’s proposal and urged him to opt for dialogue.

Imran Khan said that the PTI would continue its sit-in but the government could initiate an independent commission to probe the alleged vote fraud. The federal government had earlier approached the apex court to form a commission to probe the alleged rigging. The federal law secretary wrote to the Supreme Court registrar asking him to place the government’s request, under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 1956, for an inquiry commission.



An official close to the development told The Express Tribune that Imran Khan had given Sirajul Haq, who is heading an opposition jirga, the go-ahead to resume negotiations.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak also attended the meeting. Earlier during the day, Khattak met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Sirajul Haq told journalists that the government was delaying negotiations with the PTI. “It is the government’s responsibility to solve the issue by re-engaging with stakeholders,” he said.

The PTI and the JI agreed to press the government to expedite the process of electoral reforms. Haq also urged the government to resume dialogue with the PTI.

Both leaders pledged to work closely in the future, especially to improve governance in militancy-hit Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where both parties are coalition partners.

Imran Khan said that his struggle against status quo parties would continue. He said the PTI and the JI shared similar ideologies and were close to each other.

The JI chief said there was need for revolutionary electoral reform. “We have supported PTI’s demands from the very first day,” he said. All those involved in rigging the elections should be held responsible, he said.

Haq said both parties took decisions independent of each other but they wanted to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state.

Imran Khan claimed that the 2013 elections were the “worst rigged” in the history of Pakistan.

The JI and the PTI want an end to status quo. “We resigned from the National Assembly because we don’t accept Nawaz Sharif as prime minister,” Imran Khan said. He said the PTI’s sit-in will continue till “we get justice”. Tahirul Qadri might have left but the PTI will stay, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2014.