Pakistan

Election rigging probe: Inquiry commission rejects PTI’s allegations

Report says the 2013 general elections were in large part organised and conducted fairly

Hasnaat Malik July 23, 2015

Any plan or design to manipulate or influence the election systemically could not be proven by any of the parties to the proceedings, said inquiry commission. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: A three-judge inquiry commission probing into allegations of systematic rigging in the 2013 general elections has rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) allegations of organised rigging during 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.”

While acknowledging that the PTI was not entirely unjustified in demanding the establishment of a body to inquire into its suspicions and allegations regarding the 2013 general elections, the commission said, however, any plan or design to manipulate or influence the election systemically could not be proven by any of the parties to the proceedings nor it is evident from the evidences produced before the commission.

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Read: PML-N-ECP alliance is evident, says Imran

The report further said that allegations against those allegedly involved in the plan/design to influence the outcome of the elections also remained unsubstantiated by the evidence on record.

The inquiry commission concluded in its report that “despite some lapses by the ECP it can not be said on the evidence before the Commission that on the overall basis the elections were not a true and fair reflection of the mandate given by the electorate.”

PTI accepts commission’s verdict

PTI chief Imran said they accept the verdict of the inquiry commission but would be able to comment only after seeing the report, Express News reported.

Taking a jibe at the premier, Imran said Nawaz is lucky to see the report first otherwise all the parties should have received the report simultaneously. Although as many as 21 parties had levied allegations of rigging in the 2013 general elections but it was only PTI who fought the case in commission, Imran added.

Read: PM to review judicial commission’s report

Earlier, the premier had called a meeting of legal advisers to review options to publish judicial commission’s report over alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.

“The PM’s legal team will brief him on the report and subsequently the report will be uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Law,” a PM House spokesperson had said.

COMMENTS (22)

Maqbool Hassan Malik | 9 years ago | Reply PTI did big mistake to trust on Commission,, that was fake & not impartial, it did not even bother to check the vote bags which PTI frequently identified, I am sorry to write that this nation is still deprived from free & impartial judiciary in Pakistan,,I suggest to Mr. Khan to please struggle jointly with PAT to break & demolish the status-Que in Pakistan...

SK | 9 years ago | Reply @Pakistan: The nation is flabbergasted as to how the 2013 election could have been free and fair when so many ECP rules were flagrantly violated and most major political parties agree that election was marred with rigging. The documentations that could be considered backbones of election process were missing. Media had shown explicit instances of ballot papers being indiscriminately stamped in favor of candidates. Massive amount of ballot papers were printed than was required and the excess ballot printed were not accounted for. Yet , the commission did not find any irregularities. Unbelievable , no one was expecting a clean chit for PTI , but surely the evidence submitted would have suggested some credibility to justify the terms of reference provided in one and two. It was well known assumption that the third reference was most difficult to prove, which is why it was put there. I believe the JIT findings are either flawed or not enough evidence was presented else IK contention that no investigation could be free and fair with the incumbent PM who has all the stakes in the outcome is still in power.

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lahori | 9 years ago | Reply All Anarchists and Fake Revolutionary Thugs these words completed on year

Igloo | 9 years ago | Reply @curious2: 'Unsafe' areas? lol please tell me what part of Pakistan is classified as 'not unsafe'?

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply All Anarchists and Fake Revolutionary Thugs should be ashamed of themselves. On Social Media they are criticizing this report but have no courage to reject it.

Ashfaq11 | 9 years ago | Reply Salute to PTI supporters for accepting the JC findings. Let's now use parliament to fix the election process so any loopholes can be removed.

paradyofjustice | 9 years ago | Reply election are always fair in pakistan. no one is corrupt here. The court system is one the best in world. The police are always helpful. Ayan ali was innocent and the money magically appeared in her bag and no one ordered model town killings. :)

sofee | 9 years ago | Reply people responsible for model town killings were also resposible for all the election rigging- meaning it was people from space.

freed | 9 years ago | Reply one of the most corrupt country in the world would have to have election like these otherwise it would not be fair.

Alhtar tak | 9 years ago | Reply IMRAN TRUSTED NAWAZ COURTS .He should have learned lessons from what these judges did to zardari Imran shows lack of intelect and poor judgement

Najeebullah | 9 years ago | Reply PTI accepted the results but some self righteous folks are still crying.

curious2 | 9 years ago | Reply I suspect many have forgotten that these elections were held under International Supervision - except for unsafe areas such as Karachi and the tribal areas. The international supervisors wrote a report which essentially is the same as the Commission indicating that for the most part the elections were free of problems - that did not mean they were squeaky clean but fair enough to insure that the the outcome was correct.

Faizan | 9 years ago | Reply Braavooo. Azad Adaliya !!!!

Naeem Khan | 9 years ago | Reply It will be prudent on part of PTI or any other political party to accept and uphold the decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. By doing so the opposition parties will establish a precedence that they respect and will abide by the decisions because it will strengthen the Judiciary in the long run. I do applaud Imran Khan's decision to accept the verdict unconditionally. Although we have a mediocre prime minister and the cabinet and for sure some systematic ballot fraud has taken place but it is time to let the differences set aside and unite the country because we have a belligerent neighbor to the east and hostile neighbor to the west with rampant terrorist activities. Yes, the opposition in the NA and Senate should do their job like any other opposition party would instead of being a rubber stamp for the ruling party, It is time to stop scratching each others back and hood winking the nation.

Pakistan | 9 years ago | Reply Bias of this Judiciary was made clear to us when Nawaz Sharif advised Saad Rafique to go to Supreme Court after massive rigging was proved in NA 125. SC promptly provided relief and fixed next hearing as far away as it could not to make it look obvious. Still the leak was out. Now Gen Raheel has another sick agency to treat. It would be worth checking the assets of all Supreme Court Judges especially The Chief Justice and two others on this bench. Do include the judge or judges who helped Saad Rafique.

Ziauddin | 9 years ago | Reply Goodbye Imran Khan. I am no longer your supporter. You said we had irrefutable evidence. I lost my job over the dharna but now I feel cheated.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply Welcome to roshan Pakistan.Now burdon lies on the shoulders of politicians to get rid of mullah.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply Shame on you IK shame on you Qadri shame on you traitors, spy masters. Respect to Raheel Shareef.

Malik | 9 years ago | Reply Ro Imran Ro, Allegations without proof = PTI....... Yet another lie

Bilal Khan | 9 years ago | Reply According to Pakistan's judiciary these elections were clean as much as Ayyan Ali and Sunny Leone are clean souls. In my constituency Sheikh Rohail Asghar's goons captured the polling station in Daroghawala Lahore for one hour. RIP Justice, extremely dissapointed :(

Hasan Askari | 9 years ago | Reply Time has come now to put Imran Khan Niazi on Article 6 trial Many died, peace disturbed, ptv attacked, economy ruined and this guy is treated as sacred? When it comes to Karachi people are being put in jail based on listening to speeches and this trouble maker is some sort of above the law person. Shame on him and his supporters for wasting time of entire nation.

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply Are PTI supporters still alive and breathing?

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