PTI, govt agree to form judicial commission on poll rigging

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the PML-N government have at last reached consensus to form a judicial commission to probe alleged rigging in the 2013 General Election.

Imran Khan's PTI had been protesting against what it calls government’s unwillingness to order a probe into the alleged poll rigging.

PTI Chairman and former cricket hero Khan also led a long march on Islamabad in August, 2014 and staged a sit-in till December 16 to raise his demands.

Both the sides held several rounds of talks to reach a decision over the proposed judicial commission.

Addressing a press conference at the Punjab House on Friday , Ishaq Dar and PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Jehangir Tarin told the media that both the sides have reached an agreement over the judicial commission.

Finance Minister and PML-N stalwart Ishaq Dar said the PTI showed more flexibility over the issue of judicial commission.

“There were differences over only a few words regarding judicial commission,” he said.

Dar said copies of the agreement would soon be sent to all the political parties who were also keen to resolve the issue.

Speaking on the occasion, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said elections in Pakistan had been a question mark and there was a need for a system which must be trusted by all.

“Aim of these talks is to ensure transparent election in the future”, he said.

Meanwhile, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Zahid Khan has termed the agreement as 'collusion between the two parties' and warned of opposing any legislation over election reforms if the ANP’s reservations were not addressed.

Imran Khan hails agreement

PTI chairman Imran Khan has welcomed the agreement and said it would be for the fist time in the history of Pakistan that a probe would be carried out into election rigging.

He said every election was rigged after 1970 polls. The PTI chief thanked his party workers who attended the sit-in till December 16 and said they had achieved the success in the shape of the judicial commission.