Reaching out: PTI chief strikes a conciliatory tone
Imran signals readiness to accept judicial probe finding.
CEC Sardar Mohammad Raza receives PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: NNI
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) adopted a more conciliatory tone on Monday when he called again for a judicial commission investigation to confirm whether or not the 2013 general elections were rigged, raising at the same time the possibility that his party had acted on “a misunderstanding”.
“It should be clear whether there was rigging in general elections or was it our misunderstanding,” PTI chief Imran Khan said after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Raza, an ex-judge. “Our struggle is for the future of democracy as we want to rectify the electoral system in the country,” said Imran. The PTI chief also signalled his willingness to accept the probe results even if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) might emerge victorious again.
However, Imran pointed out that the government is saying that the findings of the election tribunals should not come before the judicial commission --- a clear sign that it wants to avoid setting up a commission. While talking about his meeting with the CEC, Imran said that he took up the issue of delay in decisions of election tribunals.
Referring to the case of NA-122, the constituency where National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq defeated PTI chairman, Imran said that “the Lahore High Court (LHC) had issued a stay order for the last one and half years which is against the law.”
The result of NA-122 will come during the month of February and “in case it is proven that I was wrong, I will accept that before the nation,” said Imran.
An independent election commission is the goal for which PTI will continue its struggle, in addition to aiming for an independent judiciary and an independent media, the PTI chairman is said to have told the CEC. “Our struggle is for an independent judiciary for real democracy in the country,” he added.
The PTI also asked the CEC for voting rights for overseas Pakistanis for which the commission has set up a task force. Electronic voting also came up in the meeting. The PTI chairman also asked the CEC for an early decision regarding NA-122 along with the proposal of suspending the NA speaker till the decision is announced.
When asked about PTI’s future strategy in case the judicial commission is not constituted, Imran said, “We will come out on the streets again.” While referring to the recent terrorist attack in Shikarpur, Imran clarified: “We do not want to create hurdles for the government in fighting terrorism.” But, he said, that if justice is not served and all avenues are closed “we would have to come out on the streets again”.
Responding to a question about Senate elections, Imran said that “voting in Senate elections should be open” as members were selling their votes due to secret balloting. “We are working on making the system transparent in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P),” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2015.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) adopted a more conciliatory tone on Monday when he called again for a judicial commission investigation to confirm whether or not the 2013 general elections were rigged, raising at the same time the possibility that his party had acted on “a misunderstanding”.
“It should be clear whether there was rigging in general elections or was it our misunderstanding,” PTI chief Imran Khan said after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Raza, an ex-judge. “Our struggle is for the future of democracy as we want to rectify the electoral system in the country,” said Imran. The PTI chief also signalled his willingness to accept the probe results even if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) might emerge victorious again.
However, Imran pointed out that the government is saying that the findings of the election tribunals should not come before the judicial commission --- a clear sign that it wants to avoid setting up a commission. While talking about his meeting with the CEC, Imran said that he took up the issue of delay in decisions of election tribunals.
Referring to the case of NA-122, the constituency where National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq defeated PTI chairman, Imran said that “the Lahore High Court (LHC) had issued a stay order for the last one and half years which is against the law.”
The result of NA-122 will come during the month of February and “in case it is proven that I was wrong, I will accept that before the nation,” said Imran.
An independent election commission is the goal for which PTI will continue its struggle, in addition to aiming for an independent judiciary and an independent media, the PTI chairman is said to have told the CEC. “Our struggle is for an independent judiciary for real democracy in the country,” he added.
The PTI also asked the CEC for voting rights for overseas Pakistanis for which the commission has set up a task force. Electronic voting also came up in the meeting. The PTI chairman also asked the CEC for an early decision regarding NA-122 along with the proposal of suspending the NA speaker till the decision is announced.
When asked about PTI’s future strategy in case the judicial commission is not constituted, Imran said, “We will come out on the streets again.” While referring to the recent terrorist attack in Shikarpur, Imran clarified: “We do not want to create hurdles for the government in fighting terrorism.” But, he said, that if justice is not served and all avenues are closed “we would have to come out on the streets again”.
Responding to a question about Senate elections, Imran said that “voting in Senate elections should be open” as members were selling their votes due to secret balloting. “We are working on making the system transparent in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P),” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2015.