Rigging allegations: Judicial commission seeks supporting vote fraud evidence
First public hearing set for April 16 at Supreme Court
PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The inquiry commission constituted to probe alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections seeks brief written statements from all the political parties accompanied by supporting evidence.
In its first meeting at the Supreme Court on Thursday, the three-judge commission headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Nasirul Mulk invited proposals from all the political parties that had participated in the previous polls.
According to a statement issued by the apex court, the political parties should submit their proposals to Muhammad Hamid Ali, secretary to the CJP who has been appointed as secretary to the commission, by April 15.
The statement said the first public hearing of the commission would be held at 1pm on April 16 in courtroom No 1 of the Supreme Court’s Islamabad registry.
PTI’s strategy
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has engaged senior counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzada to argue the matter before the commission after dysfunction of the premier legal team, headed by Hamid Khan.
“Hamid Khan has some reservations with the party leadership over their criticism of former CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry,” revealed a member of the PTI’s previous legal team. “Therefore, it will not be possible for us to present the party’s case before the commission.”
A senior party member said PTI core committee member Ishaq Khan Khakwani was tasked with coordinating among the lawyers as well as other political parties.
He said a few key members of the party held a meeting on Thursday evening to evolve future strategy, adding that the team was also considering the commission’s decision to conduct public hearing on the issue.
A two-member delegation of the Balochistan National Party (BNP)-Mengal also met with the PTI leadership to discuss the same subject.
Sajid Tareen, a senior member of the BNP-Mengal, said the party was prepared to present evidence before the commission of rigging in the elections.
PBC expresses concern
Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Executive Committee Chairman Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon expressed concern on the constitution of the judicial commission because, according to him, it was formed in violation of Article 225 of the constitution.
He said the commission’s constitution was an attempt to involve the judiciary into political matters, which, he added, would undermine the perception about the judiciary. “Therefore, the CJP and the other two judges should not be a part of the commission.”
Bhoon also took strong exception to former CJP Chaudhry’s “very hasty” statement, wherein he announced that he would appear before the commission as a party.
“His undue haste in giving the statement soon after the constitution of the judicial commission gives the impression that he has a guilty conscience for having played some role in the last general polls.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2015.
The inquiry commission constituted to probe alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections seeks brief written statements from all the political parties accompanied by supporting evidence.
In its first meeting at the Supreme Court on Thursday, the three-judge commission headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Nasirul Mulk invited proposals from all the political parties that had participated in the previous polls.
According to a statement issued by the apex court, the political parties should submit their proposals to Muhammad Hamid Ali, secretary to the CJP who has been appointed as secretary to the commission, by April 15.
The statement said the first public hearing of the commission would be held at 1pm on April 16 in courtroom No 1 of the Supreme Court’s Islamabad registry.
PTI’s strategy
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has engaged senior counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzada to argue the matter before the commission after dysfunction of the premier legal team, headed by Hamid Khan.
“Hamid Khan has some reservations with the party leadership over their criticism of former CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry,” revealed a member of the PTI’s previous legal team. “Therefore, it will not be possible for us to present the party’s case before the commission.”
A senior party member said PTI core committee member Ishaq Khan Khakwani was tasked with coordinating among the lawyers as well as other political parties.
He said a few key members of the party held a meeting on Thursday evening to evolve future strategy, adding that the team was also considering the commission’s decision to conduct public hearing on the issue.
A two-member delegation of the Balochistan National Party (BNP)-Mengal also met with the PTI leadership to discuss the same subject.
Sajid Tareen, a senior member of the BNP-Mengal, said the party was prepared to present evidence before the commission of rigging in the elections.
PBC expresses concern
Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Executive Committee Chairman Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon expressed concern on the constitution of the judicial commission because, according to him, it was formed in violation of Article 225 of the constitution.
He said the commission’s constitution was an attempt to involve the judiciary into political matters, which, he added, would undermine the perception about the judiciary. “Therefore, the CJP and the other two judges should not be a part of the commission.”
Bhoon also took strong exception to former CJP Chaudhry’s “very hasty” statement, wherein he announced that he would appear before the commission as a party.
“His undue haste in giving the statement soon after the constitution of the judicial commission gives the impression that he has a guilty conscience for having played some role in the last general polls.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2015.