Pakistan

Imran’s poll rigging drive must be probed: Iftikhar Chaudhry

Says someone should not accuse others without evidence

Hasnaat Malik July 28, 2015

Chaudhary demanded an inquiry into the motives behind Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s slur campaign against him and other individuals during his marathon dharna. PHOTO: INP

ISLAMABAD: Former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has demanded an inquiry into the motives behind Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s slur campaign against him and other individuals during his marathon dharna.

“It should not happen that someone accuses others without any evidence, keep the nation hostage for almost four months and goes scot-free in the end,” Chaudhry said while addressing a news conference at his residence in Islamabad along with dozens of his supporters.

Read: Post-inquiry: Govt seeks PTI apology over rigging charges

If this happens today, then tomorrow someone else will bring a few hundred people in the federal capital and stage a protest in front parliament, he added.

Referring to Article 7 of the Constitution, Chaudhry said the state should immediately hold a thorough inquiry into the factors that compelled Imran to level baseless allegations of electoral fraud against former judges and others since April 24, 2014.

Though Chaudhry did not criticise the PTI as a party he severely targeted its chief by saying that he has failed to prove his allegations of rigging before the inquiry commission.

He also claimed that Imran has levelled allegations against him ‘115 times’ since his retirement but despite producing thousands of documents and numerous videos, he did not give any evidence regarding his involvement before the commission.

Regarding Imran’s complaint for not taking up rigging issue during his tenure, Chaudhry said no proper petition was moved by the PTI.

Read: 10 reasons why the Judicial Commission verdict is a stepping stone for PTI

PTI reaction

PTI task force chairman Ishaq Khan Khakwani while commenting over Chaudhry’s media talk said that firstly, the state should also probe who was the mastermind behind the movement of his restoration and who had administratively and financially supported the lawyers’ movement, adding that the ex-CJ is working on the PML-N agenda.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (18)

Karachiite | 8 years ago | Reply So why don't you take Imran to court regarding defamation? Stop mudslinging, if you can prove his allegations baseless, show by actions, not words, at least Imran had the guts to act on his words and what he stood for, despite the consequences. Not one defamation suit has been filed since all were 'accusations' had proof behind them.

Shakil | 8 years ago | Reply Yes Sure, he is the culprit for raising voice against cartel who staged elections! How dares he! Thieves and goons are respectable after rigging and Imran is culprit! Imran was naive to believe justice can ever be done by judges who actually staged and managed elections! What next for Imran run a drive for fair and sincere judiciary before trying to get any election probe results. Only free and fair Judiciary can deliver fair and just results! If they cant punish culprits, they join them will provide legal cover to mafia!

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Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply Dark forces behind Imran and Fake revolutionary thug must be exposed. If second most popular leader of the country is their stooge, then future is very dark for democracy.

Mithidada | 8 years ago | Reply The remedy is recourse to the law. If the former CJ feels aggrieved, he should file a libel suit against Imran. You can't have judicial commissions for everything. There is a law against libel and defamation so why shouldn't the courts enforce it?

Usman Ajmal | 8 years ago | Reply @OBSERVER: Not only is it investigated, its documented. Patwaris can never understand true competence.

jamal | 8 years ago | Reply It is very important to highlight the factors/ persons behind Khan. As with the allegations khna fell flat, it is now right time to see who were behind Khan. Khan had no proofs yet he spoke against Iftikhar Ch, how come he knew that Iftikhar Ch. helped in rigging? someone might have told Khan. That someone now needs to be identified to help Pakistan save. we all know from our instincts 'that someone' but inquiry is necessary otherwise same persons like Khan will come on streets at the will of powerful men. It is unjust that a person gets away after putting big allegations, there should be some good system to put to end these type of persons.

Shuaib | 8 years ago | Reply @Polite Canuck: Through those suo moto cases he retrieved over Rs. 200 billion!! Shame on you!!

UncleShame | 8 years ago | Reply Simple and clear, As they used the slogan same those are used in syria and yemen,,,"Against Kinghship"... So its 100% clear they want civil war to errupt... Both Qadri and khan are operated from external forces... Now better to scrutinize both financing and source of income generated by the financers... So you will get who was behind....!!

Neutral | 8 years ago | Reply I want to see inquiry results of Arsalan iftikhar case . Wana talk about it ?

Sana | 8 years ago | Reply No one trust judiciary in this country anymore. IK should present all evidence to public and give a call. Let's show thi ex-CJ if there were few hundred people or the entire nation behind IK.

Despicable | 8 years ago | Reply Some one said " The last refuge of a scoundral is Politics". How true.

Disgusting | 8 years ago | Reply ET you degrade your papers prestige by such reporting of a heinous character.

excalibur | 8 years ago | Reply A shameless and unrepentant Cyclop Chaudhry

ironMan! | 8 years ago | Reply Ch Sahab ...we are waiting for you to join politics......hope you wont cry seeing your popularity among masses. You failed to deliver..you lost your opportunity. its GameOver 4 u since u left CJ office.

liaqat ali | 8 years ago | Reply I think ex CJP should take up the offer of Mr. Khakwani immidiately . Challenge PTI to agree to ONE enquiry commission probing the motives and funding of dharna and rigging allegations as well as the lawyers movement for restoration of judges. Do not lt PTI go scopt free with another baseless allegation . Iftikhar choudhry has his own poroblems , I know but he is right on the issue of IK and PTI who are constantly evading his petiotion for damages. He must persue them to the end otherwise we will think , something wrong in the bottom also here.

Salam | 8 years ago | Reply But but khakwani Sahab, imran khan always says he was behind restoration, then why ask CJ, when the person himself has admitted, or is Imran Khan retracting that too?

Polite Canuck | 8 years ago | Reply

"It should not happen that someone accuses others without any evidence, keep the nation hostage for almost four months and goes scot-free in the end,” Chaudhry said

So, don't accuse others without any evidence and don't keep the nation hostage. Ok. Clearly this man has never heard of suo motu and never abused his power to exercise politically motivated, frivolous notices. Oh wait...

OBSERVER | 8 years ago | Reply Funding of Dharna shuld also be investigated....

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