PM should apologise since inquiry commission upheld PTI’s stance: Imran Khan

Expresses reservations regarding commission's verdict that elections were fair and in accordance with the law

ISLAMABAD: In his first public reaction to the verdict of the inquiry commission, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan demanded on Saturday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should apologise to the nation since the verdict had vindicated PTI’s demand of an inquiry into the May 2013 general elections.

“Mian Sb [PM Sharif] should apologise [to the nation]—why should I apologise — we only demanded a fair inquiry into [rigging in] four constituencies,” PTI Chairman said while addressing a press conference.

Urging the nation to scrutinise the findings of the inquiry commission, Imran said “I’m proud of findings and role judges played in this commission.”

Read: Inquiry commission rejects PTI’s allegations

While accepting the commission’s verdict, Imran expressed his reservations regarding the report.

Referring to the verdict, wherein the commission said “the 2013 general elections were in large part organised and conducted fairly and in accordance with the law,” Imran asked how the commission could declare that the elections were lawful when around 20 million votes could not be verified since 35% of form-15 could not be recovered.

Alleging that the former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry had closed all doors when PTI staged a “dharna” outside the Parliament, the PTI chief said that Iftikhar Chaudhry should have taken notice of election rigging, but he did not let the authorities open bags in even four constituencies.

Read: PTI struggles to craft a response to judicial commission's findings

Rejecting the notion that PTI wasted the nation's time in dharnas, Imran claimed that it had created political awareness among the masses.

The PTI chief claimed that the premier had himself admitted to the polls being rigged.

Imran said that his party will release a report on the local body polls in K-P over the next ten days, vowing to punish all those involved in rigging.

He further demanded that the government should show the door to senior members of the top poll body. “ECP [top] officials must resign now that the inquiry commission’s report has proved that it failed to ensure free and fair elections.”