Imran accepting JC report shows clear departure from his past

Islamabad
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan commendably honoured his word by unequivocally accepting the report of the inquiry commission, which he had repeatedly uttered long time ago, and showered well-deserved lavish praise on Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk.
Sticking to his solemn vow by the PTI chief was a clear departure from his past as at one time he had been commending a certain high functionary and at another lambasting him mercilessly after that person did not buy his cause and case.
However, for the moment this is an exception. Although the chief justice dashed the high hopes and expectations of Imran Khan as he himself stated, the PTI chairman applauded him for his ‘superb’ job and was ‘proud’ of him.
As a whole, Imran Khan’s long-awaited reaction on the findings of the commission was creditable. It was well considered. This is how the decision of three judges of the Supreme Court of impeccable integrity should be received. He shunned the politics of disruption and interruptions and resolved to work within the system - Parliament.
For a change, the PTI chairman was not as disparaging and uncharitable towards prime minister as he used to be. The rejection of his case in entirety by the commission visibly moderated and tempers his usual aggression. He was conscious of the deep frustration and disappointment running high among his supporters because of the report and that’s why he asked them not to be demoralized. This is how a leader should behave.
Imran Khan would have certainly raised his stature had he expressed regrets without any reservations to all those he had cruelly maligned, slandered, scandalized and slurred for months for umpteen times.
However, all the major and minor allegations against legitimacy and genuineness of the elections automatically stand withdrawn after the commission rejected them in its elaborate report.
This was stated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and accord signed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on April 1, 2015 after protracted negotiations.
It is immaterial and irrelevant whether or not the PTI or any other political party formally retracts the rigging allegations, if the report of the commission has sanctity for the contestants, who lost their case.
It was written in the accord that if the report of the commission did not uphold PTI accusations regarding the polls, its allegations shall stand withdrawn; Imran Khan’s squad will perform its role in the Parliament and the democratic process; and the federal and provincial assemblies will continue to function in accordance with the Constitution.
The accord didn’t provide that the PTI would tender a public apology if its charges were dismissed by the commission.
Whatever the agreement prescribed for the PTI to do in case its accusations were thrown aside is positive - performing its role in the Parliament and democratic process.
However, the accord had recommended the severest punishment - resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and dissolution of the incumbent federal and provincial governments - if the poll rigging allegations were sustained in the commission’s report.
According to the agreement, if the commission determined that the election results, on an overall basis, were not a true and fair reflection of the mandate given by the electorate, Nawaz Sharif ‘shall’ dissolve the National Assembly under article 58(1) of the Constitution to hold fresh elections. Simultaneously, each of the provincial assemblies ‘shall’ be disbanded by the respective chief ministers under article 112(1) to organise new polls.
At the time, the Nawaz Sharif government was under immense pressure due to the sit-ins of the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT). Therefore, it failed to include a provision in the agreement recommending a heavy price for the PTI if rigging charges were dismissed.
It was noted in the accord that the PTI alleged that in 2013 polls, violation of requirements of Constitution were widespread and the overall results were affected to such an extent that the same do not reflect the true will of the electorate. The PML-N doesn’t accept the allegations, the agreement said.
Both the parties consented in national interest to resolve the issue through formation of the commission. It reproduced the scope of inquiry. It said the caretaker cabinet shall be appointed in case of dissolution of the National Assembly in accordance with articles 224 and 224A and the PML-N will consult with the PTI in the formation of such cabinet.
According to the agreement, the PTI was satisfied with the appointment of National Database & Registration Authority chairman as per due process.
The two sides noted that the selection of the Election Commission of Pakistan Secretary has been made by the Chief Election Commissioner and the notification as per due process has been issued by the federal government.
Another clause of the MoU said that if the commission exercised the power to form one or more special investigation teams (JIT) under the presidential ordinance, appointment of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general will be made following due process and after consultation with the PTI. However, the inquiry panel had not chosen to invoke this clause although the PTI cherished that the premier military intelligence agencies were involved in one way or the other. As sought by the commission, the accord was handed over to it for its record.