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Friday March 29, 2024

JC rejects all three rigging charges by PTI

Party fails to prove organised rigging, non-transparent polling, theft of public mandate; charges against none of the individuals, institutions proved; irregularities to the extent of EC but these did not change public mandate; report sent to govt

By our correspondents
July 23, 2015
ISLAMABAD: The three-member judicial commission headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk in its detailed report sent to the Ministry of Law on Wednesday rejected all the three allegations of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on rigging in the 2013 general elections.
The three main allegations of the PTI included organised rigging in the 2013 general elections, non-transparent polling and theft of the public mandate.The report said there were irregularities to the extent of the Election Commission but they did not constitute a reflection of a deviation from the public mandate.
The report also states in clear words that none of the allegations levelled by the PTI and other parties against any individual or institution were proved. According to official sources, the report of over 274 pages was sent to the Ministry of Law late Wednesday after a meeting of the judicial commission.
The commission also comprises Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal.The sources said the sealed report had been sent to the Prime Minister’s House and the same would be made public with the permission of the premier. “The report is likely to be released today (Thursday),” the sources.
The PTI chairman had categorically said following the formation of the commission that he would accept the decision of the commission.The judicial commission was against alleged rigging in the polls. The commission initiated its proceedings on April 9 and concluded around 85-day work on July 03.
During its proceedings, the PTI produced 16 witnesses while other parties including the PML-N, PML-Q, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and others also presented their witnesses.The commission held 39 hearings while it also held two in camera meetings and one meeting in the chamber.
The PML-N leader and federal minister Ahsan Iqbal in his tweet said that once the truth emerges, the PTI leadership should immediately tender apology. “They staged 126-day sit-in and destroyed the country’s economy,” he said.However, the PTI leaders Naeemul Haq and Jahangir Tareen said they would give any comments following official verification of the report.