Pakistan

Inquiry commission's report endorses PML-N's mandate: PM Nawaz

Says report will be made public, stakeholders should stop leveling baseless allegations

Hasnaat Mailk/abdul Manan July 23, 2015

Prime Minister Nawaz Shharif addresses the nation on July 23, 2015. PHOTO: PID

ISLAMABAD: As the poll inquiry commission rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claims that 2013 general elections were systematically rigged, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the report endorsed the government's point of view on the issue, as well as the mandate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

“As the most credible institution in the country has endorsed the results of the 2013 general elections, baseless allegations should stop once and for all now,” said Nawaz, while addressing the nation on Thursday. “I have ordered the inquiry commission’s report to be made public."

Nawaz said the government was ready to forget what happened after the elections but it was unfortunate that the country was defamed by making fair and spotless elections disputed.

“We should consider the verdict as a milestone and embark on a new journey on the road to progress and get rid of chaos, uncertainty and instability,” he said, adding that as per its manifesto, the PML-N was committed to bring about electoral reforms through Parliament to ensure fair and transparent elections.

The commission in its 237-page report said despite some lapses on part of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) “the 2013 general elections were in large part organised and conducted fairly and in accordance with the law.”

Earlier, the premier had called a meeting of legal advisers to review options to publish the poll inquiry report.

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Meanwhile, PTI chief Imran Khan accepted the commisison's verdict, saying he will comment once he reads the report himself.

In April this year, Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk had formed a judicial commission to investigate alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.

Read: SC forms judicial commission to probe alleged rigging in 2013 polls

The three-member commission was headed by the chief justice himself and comprised of Justice Ameer Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan. The PTI had staged a 126-day long sit-in in Islamabad, demanding a probe into the 2013 elections.

PTI approached SC for copy of report

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had approached Supreme Court seeking a copy of the inquiry commission’s report.

“PTI secretary general Jahangir Tareen has written a letter to SC registrar Tahir Shahbaz for a copy of the commission’s report as the ruling PML-N is leaking its contents in its favour,” a senior PTI leader told The Express Tribune.

PTI task force chairman Ishaq Khan Khakwani has also contacted the inquiry commission secretary, Hamid Ali, and expressed concern that the federal government has not published the report.

Further, The Express Tribune has learnt that the commission secretary has sought some time to respond to PTI’s complaint.

COMMENTS (48)

A Ijaz | 8 years ago | Reply After the General Election 1913 great majority of Pakistani people always believed that these elections were better, and fairer than all previous elections held in Pakistan since 1971. It is unfortunate, that the PTI and its leadership made these elections controversial. If Imran Khan and his party had researched the case before going for Dharna(Sit-in), nation would have made positive progress towards solving real issues of education, electricity and law and order situation in the Country. By adopting a negative approach he has caused a colossal loss and damage to the economy and wasted valuable resources that could be spent on the poor and the needy. Now I'll request leadership of PTI to concentrate on positive aspects of nation building and stop destroying meagre resources available to the nation.

H Chaudhry | 8 years ago | Reply The people who have even an iota of understanding of law knew this will be decision. Good thing for Pakistan! Time to move on. @To All Others questioning why Report was given to Govt! Because that is how things work after an Ordinance. If you need report download it from Law ministry website. @Huma All the problems you have listed are there for 67 years and its not NS that will be remembered as failure but every politician and military ruler. Time to move on! Stability is key and PMLN govt despite of their many issues is trying hard. Every thing is an issue, priorities are needed. PMLN is better than others and now its time to give them space to do what they want and judge them in 2018.

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Ex-Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan RIP 2018

Sami | 8 years ago | Reply Sad day for Pakistan but all I can say to my nation to learn and educate yourself and your kids. If we do not do that then we will not know our rights and how to challenge departments and how to fight for our rights. This sort of judgements proves the slavered mentality not just for our nation but also for our judiciary and elite class. When I was studying in London in 1996, we had 8 students in our class sent to our university by Iranian government (all expenses paid). I was told by one of my Iranian PhD friend that there are over 250 students sent by Iran every year to do PhD (just to UK). Today Iran had the victory over super powers on nuclear deal and it is all because of the vision of honest leaders to educate their nation. Please learn and be honest and fight for your rights in educated way and never leave hope. Pakistan Zindabad.

Xyz | 8 years ago | Reply I am a tax payer. I want my money back. Do not send a kid to do a man's work...first we trusted the judiciary to conduct free and fair elections. ..then we started crying we made a mistake...then we setup a dharna...then said we should not have ended it....then we entered the NA that we left...then said we should not have gone in...then we trusted the commission...now we will start crying...or start getting ready to cry about the same thing in a different way...smart. btw you sent very smart people to agree to the MoU for setting up the JC... don't send kids to do a man's work.

Shiraz Moughal | 8 years ago | Reply @Huma: Where are your references?

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Today a tyrant may seem to have won but rest assured Pakistan that if you persevere The Final Battle against status quo would be won by you if you Just remain steadfast.

Mohammad Aslalm | 8 years ago | Reply Supreme court,s judges empowered Sharif brotheren and their cronies to rig nxt general election

Mohammad Ali | 8 years ago | Reply @cheebz: PM got the report not to approve but because the government ordered creation of the commission. Hence as per practice the report will be submitted to the head of government. Don't look for conspiracies.Your liar Khan should get ready to apologise to the nation:)

Aam Admi Bechara | 8 years ago | Reply courts are too sharif too go against the wishes of sharifs. Proof: They have not given a single verdict on many cases of corruption been in sharif courts for decades now.

Reality Check | 8 years ago | Reply JC was only going to give a decision on the evidence presented to it. All of you who said they were witnesses to election rigging should have come forward when the JC asked citizens to appear who had information on this. If you or your relatives or friends who saw rigging didnt show up to the JCs call then you are responsible for the verdict as no evidence was presented to it that could have constituted rigging and instead of writing here you should have waited for the report which is available at the following URL http://www.molaw.gov.pk/gop/index.php?q=aHR0cDovLzE5Mi4xNjguNzAuMTM2L21vbGF3L3VzZXJmaWxlczEvZmlsZS9SZXBvcnQlMjBGaW5hbC5wZGY%3D Read it and you'll know exactly what happened during the proceedings and what evidence was presented.

kashif khan | 8 years ago | Reply geo nawaz geo and go imran go

Azmat Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Guys, the JC report simply states, and truthfully so, that the parties claiming election rigging, could not provide evidence that would establish the same beyond a shadow of legal doubt. It states, that given the evidence on record, the elections seem to have been conducted fairly and impartially. Hence, the report is accurate. Despite the fact that I continue to believe that there was widespread rigging of polls, I always knew it would be impossible to provide the kind of evidence required by a court of law to adjudicate as a planned and concocted election. Does the JC report say anything else with regards to the EC's inadequacies and ineptness? Who knows. May be it does and thereby we can move forward with a plan to fix those issues. PTI, to which I belong, has done well by accepting the report, even before actually getting a copy of the same. I am sure there will be enough material in the JC report that will give PTI enough solace in the form of highlighting the various issues that the JC was actually able to identify with the elections. Move on guys. Let's make KPK the model province for all others to follow. Let's become part of the Parliamentary Committee on Election Reform and ensure future elections are not even close to those conduction in 2013.

Asad | 8 years ago | Reply We all know the justice system of Pakistan Mr. PM, Ayan is the best example of recent past.

muhammad khan | 8 years ago | Reply 35 punctures were repaired by JC.

Hasnain | 8 years ago | Reply Once again Imran Khan become the victim of corrupt system.

haji | 8 years ago | Reply @Huma: Thanks to PTI he will be victom out of this in the end of the term for PTI did not give him chance to take initiatives and constantly tried to derail the elected govt. Nice work PTI.

Disgusting | 8 years ago | Reply @Parvez: Same judiciary who let Saad Rafique off, same judiciary which is trying to delay NAB corruption cases hearings. It is time we take this group of judges to task and check their assets here and abroad. They must be subjected to severe punishments where needed.

Disgusting | 8 years ago | Reply @Huma: Only regret this man will have is that he could not make more money or he could not help his son's Indian business or he could not remove this line we Pakistanis call international border and he calls it a frivolous line. There is so much similarity between Altaf and Nawaz.

Iram | 8 years ago | Reply Dear PM please also share findings of Justice Baqar on the sorry incident of model town, you got it way back but did not find time to share so please share now.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply Those demanding for making this report public, forget that for 2 years their pea brained leader incessantly pandered to a bogus fairy tale of some "35 Puncture Audio." The equally unique and brain dead fan boys of PTI continued to believe this propaganda and never once demanded from their leader to make that audio public. In the end, that tape was never made public and instead the narrative was cast as a "Political Statement." Poetic justice ain't it?

ishrat salim | 8 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: you are wrong, TOR does not say that the verdict will not be made public, show us. And IK will never sign such a document which the public will be deprived off. Your enthusiasm apart, but do not go over board. Presidential ordnance was for the formation of judicial commission as per signed & agreed TORs. The report is public property & it must be made public. In fact, it should have been made public by the judicial commission themselves, but they too seem to have lost their bearing.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply @Ranjha: Mr. Rodney Dangerfield, albeit it was a public commission but not the kind of public gatherings that y'all are used to - DJ Butts, dancing, music, lying, mud slinging etc. etc. This public commission had some method, sanity and decorum to it and would only make it's report public as per guideline, i.e. federal government through Ministry of Law. I can comprehend the sensation of a charbroiled backside but you got to take it easy son. Sit on a block of ice for an extended period of time.

Daisy.ZAMAN | 8 years ago | Reply @cheebz: This is the true justice of Pakistan. Every one is watching the true pic of judicial commission.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply @Asad: Dear Sir, President is just a ceremonial figure and whatever he does, does it upon the advise of the government. The ordinance was signed off by the President and notification was of the constitution of this commission was ratified by the Law Ministry and JC simply sent it report to this particular arm of the federal government. The decision of this JC will be made public this evening by none other than the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Hisham | 8 years ago | Reply Instead of vomiting venom against NS the Khanians should ask their leader for an explanation that why he lied and misled you. Khanians need self-analysis and they should learn a lesson out of this verdict that blind following of a politician is always dangerous. Government should constitute another Judicial Commission to investigate the real motive and unmasked the real culprits behind the long march, dharna and consequent assaults on Parliament PTV and PM house.

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply @Mrs Juicy Gossips: That exactly was the point of the dharna! That this nation has bigger issues to face which this inept government will never address. Good luck to you and this corrupt nation as the misery piles on. Ps. I'm, unfortunately, a part of this munafiq nation, which deserves what it gets...as per Divine Law.

Shahid | 8 years ago | Reply This will be hard to believe even for N league's voters who know how elections are held in villages. But for PTI, they must understand, loudmouthing on container is one thing, proving in court of law is another. Dhandli is part and parcel of our elections, instead of collecting substantial evidence, all PTI did was to dance on songs, hence the result.

Abdul basit | 8 years ago | Reply Same judicaly system which leaves Ayan Ali on bail. don,t expect for justice from these courts

Ranjha | 8 years ago | Reply @Naan Siddiqi: Mr. Thurgood Marshall, it was a public commission holding its hearing in public and must report the findings to public as well. Is that clear now darbari e azam?

Asad | 8 years ago | Reply @Adnan The authority that constituted it was President, then why the report is sent to PM House and why PM will address the nation ? The decision should be made public and later on a there should be a great tv show where nawaz sharif and imran khan should be guests.

Bacha Hussain | 8 years ago | Reply Respected PM, Whatever report issued by the supreme court is not a real victory for any political ruling party in a country like Pakistan where aupreme court has never given any examplary punishment to corrupt politcians. Even no powerful decision in the most brutal cases if honor killing against women because of strong support of political elements behind the criminals. You will be just critisising imran for what he did not prove against you is the wasting of nation's time and money. We all must appreciate a leader for whart we see in our elections for years but did nothing while this man had the courage to awaken public and institutions. Our character is not attached with the suprem court decision as look at countless corruption cases against politicians NAB and court as well as the international reports regarding governments performence even the latest case of the killing of income tax officer in Ayan case and the court instructions regarding the necklas of flood victims in the neck of an ex-PM's wife. We are just looking busy and doing nothing in functioning the govt that is why no real reforms take place. Thanks Bacha Hussain

z | 8 years ago | Reply The damaged caused to the nation and economy is still being felt because of the sit-ins which were held because of allegations of rigging during the elections. Lord Niazi please focus on KPK and stop wasting nation's time. Thank for your efforts anyway! you made PMLN hero of the time.

SK | 8 years ago | Reply Imran Khan was very correct during Dharna that any enquiry under the Premiership of Nawaz Sharif can ever be fair. PML-N bot, left & right, all the witnesses (EC, NADRA, ROs etc.) and massively influenced the JC report. The JC worked like automated robots (garbage in - garbage out) on the face value and not on the spirit! What a pity? Go Nawaz Go

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply @Asad @f.rahimh, The commission was constituted by the President as advised by the government through an ordinance. The commission is duty bound to send it's report only to the entity that constituted it. It is not empowered to read out the verdict to the public nor it is authorized to release any transcript of the verdict to the media. I know it sucks but these were the TORs agreed upon and PTI signed off on the agreement.

Ad | 8 years ago | Reply To all the naysayers who invariably are cult worshiping mureeds of Fiqah-e-Imrani: Burnol y;all

Down with sickness | 8 years ago | Reply The corrupt pakistani system makes me wonder if the educated class wants to live here! I certainly don't want to live where I don't have rights and the judiciary is as corrupt as politicians. This country is only made for martial law!

f.rahimh | 8 years ago | Reply Strange, very strange indeed. PM is the accused Party, but has got the report and leaked it. Whereas the principal party, the aggrieved, the complainant, is not aware or know its contents? what is suggests? the status quo rules everywhere.

Asad | 8 years ago | Reply The commission should release a short summary and detail document to media itself. Why make a new controversy ?

cheebz | 8 years ago | Reply funny that the accused gets the final report for them to approve.. and if the accuser wants to see the report they have to go through legal channels to get a copy of it.. how absurd.. no wonder no one trusts the Judiciary.. why the hide and seek, just put it public.. looks like another Model Town scenario by government.. looks like judiciary also needs to clean up... hope nasir-ul mulk not another Iftikhar Chaudhry

Mrs Juicy Gossips | 8 years ago | Reply @Petrolhead: Listen, even most independent foreign observers at the time considered the elections reasonably on the board. It just that Mr Tsunami can't come to grips with the fact that his 'Lion of Lahore' personality didn't carry the day. Anyways, every dog has its day, as the saying goes. Let's move on, there are much bigger issues at stake and confronting the nation.

wactah | 8 years ago | Reply All of a sudden N-league got so active with this report and addressing nation as well, while on the other hand PTI has to still get the report. Fishy !

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply This is the same judiciary that has released Aayan Ali on bail and most likely she will walk free......and the same judiciary that declared that Mumtaz Qadri is not a terrorist........credibility is never demanded it is always earned.

MMB | 8 years ago | Reply Amazing Amazing Amazing. Millions have witness rigging with their own eyes. JC is gonna say that there was no rigging? And this shameless PM, NA125 was rigged surely, NA122 was rigged surely, My relative from NA118 seen whole day polling and 80% people were for PTI than how did the result change? Deep down even JC, Army, Nawaz Sharif himselfs know that elections were rigged. I still salute Imran Khan for standing up for us. Thank you Imran Khan. I am tired of Pakistan and losing hope but I know this man who won't give up and make us all stand again for our country. He won't give up. He will fall and get up again. After all a single person fighting the whole corrupt system and institutions alone. What could we expect. Sad day for Pakistan. Where there is no punishment for wrong doing, you encourage them to do more.

Huma | 8 years ago | Reply He has another 32 months left in his tenor (i.e. maximum 32 months). He has so much to regret that I feel sorry for him, for example: No education initiative No resoloution of water issues No development in Southern punjab and Balouchistan No curb on wastage of financial resources on VIP culture No resoloution of Minority issue No resoloution of Islamic fundamentalism No resoloution of instituationalisation of banking system for the farmers as they sill pay 30% + annually Dont have much time to write more. You will always be remembered as a failure.

Ranjha | 8 years ago | Reply It was a public commission doing open court hearing. Why the heck is the report not issued in public domain but "sent" to government officials? Is this for editing and alterations? This report must be made public by the JC itself NOW!

Petrolhead | 8 years ago | Reply The PM is the primary accused in this case. Yet he's the one to approve releasing of the report. Seems like noone involved in the process, including the judiciary has got any sense of what's reasonable and what results in the conflict of interest.

Acorn Guts | 8 years ago | Reply Looking forwards to it. For neutral observer like me it's win win. If 2013 election were bad then people of Pakistan get their stolen mandate back, If elections were good then we can move on with democratically elected Gov. without constant nuisance from PTI.

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