Second round of talks: Govt, PTI exchange proposals for judicial commission

Both sides still have disagreements on multiple points.

ISLAMABAD: The government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) negotiators on Sunday exchanged their preconditions for the proposed judicial commission – to probe allegations of rigging in the May 2013 polls – but sources said the two sides were still polls apart on multiple points.

The PTI’s negotiation team – comprising Jahangir Tareen and Asad Umar – held their second round of talks with government’s team, led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for Planning and Reform Ahsan Iqbal, at Tareen’s residence in Islamabad.

Earlier, Ahsan Iqbal and Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Butt held their first meeting with PTI’s Asad Umar on December 11.



Talking to reporters, Tareen said he has handed over the blueprint for the JC – which his party had prepared – to the government team while Ishaq Dar has also given to the PTI the proposals for the JC’s terms of reference (TORs).

“We have discussed the points agreed earlier and hope that in the coming days we will reach some conclusion,” he said. “It is good that both teams have resumed the dialogue process, which was held in a pleasant atmosphere,” he added.

Dar told reporters that the parties have agreed not to share any details of the talks with the media.

“It is our national duty to find out a solution to the  current political impasse in order to pull the country and the nation out of the state of loss. We have vowed that after solving this issue we will move forward for the betterment of the country with unanimity,” he said.

Both sides decided to hold their next round of talks on Tuesday evening and agreed that if they reach an agreement then the PTI may postpone its protests, including its shutdown call of December 18.

Inside story

The sources privy to the development said the PTI chief Imran Khan wants to get signature or solemn commitment from the government on the points already agreed upon between the two sides.

They said the PTI, in its proposals handed over to Dar, has demanded a strong composition of the JC. The PTI wants the government to issue an ordinance or act of parliament, which should include all the TORs, work plan for the JC as well as details of rigging – like ink issues, role of returning officers, tampered or missing ballot papers.

The PTI wants that the JC complete its investigation in 45 days and that assemblies be dissolved if rigging is proved.

Apart from these, the PTI’s other proposals include the JC’s work plan. The PTI wants to submit Free and Fair Election Network’s (Fafen) recent audit report of 161 National Assembly seats as a guide for the JC to study before investigating the rigging allegations.

The PTI also want to include Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) 355 reforms which it submitted to Parliamentary Electoral Reforms Committee as evidence of party’s claim of rigging in the 2013 polls. The PTI has also withdrawn its earlier demand for audit of 35 NA seats and now wants audit of the whole election.

Sources in the government said Dar told the PTI team that the apex court’s recent detailed judgment on certain petitions seeking annulment of the May 2013 polls has forced the government to review its previously-agreed points with the PTI.

According to sources, he said Article 225 of the Constitution stipulates that election tribunal is the ultimate authority to probe the allegation of rigging. Dar said the government is ready to send its reminder to the Supreme Court about the government’s August 13 letter to investigate the election under Pakistan Inquiry Act 1956.

The government will give its solemnised commitment to the PTI about all its apprehensions, which it wants to be fulfilled after the submission of JC’s report, the sources quote Dar as saying.

The sources said both sides agreed that in their next meeting they will participate along with their legal teams and would decide, which way is feasible for both of them to form a JC.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2014.