PML-N lodges complaint against Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the Judicial Commission (JC) on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s press conference declaring the witness and former Punjab Election Commissioner Mehboob Anwar a liar.
A three-member General Election 2013 Inquiry Commission headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk and comprising Justice Ameer Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan resumed hearing into the alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.
During the course of the hearing, Shahid Hamid, the counsel for PML-N, drew the attention of the commission towards the press conference held the other day by the PTI Chairman Imran Khan, covered by all the TV channels.
The learned counsel informed the Inquiry Commission that soon after its hearing the other day, Imran Khan in his media talk declared the witness, former Punjab election commissioner, as a liar saying that a pattern of rigging had been established. Shahid Hamid further submitted that Imran Khan had also threatened the witness by saying, ‘Ehtisaab Hoga.’
“This is reprehensible on two counts and direct violation of Section 3 and 4 of the Ordinance of General Election 2013 Inquiry Commission and interference in the working of the learned commission,” Shahid Hamid contended. Counsel for the PML-N further submitted
before the Inquiry Commission that Imran Khan was determining outside which the Inquiry Commission had to determine adding that the learned Inquiry Commission in the beginning had advised twice the media as well as leaders of all the political parties to refrain from giving comments on the proceedings of the Inquiry Commission however, he said that Imran Khan had breached the directives of the learned commission.
“Mehboob Anwar is a court witness and this amounts to intimidation”, Shahid Hamid submitted.The learned counsel also submitted a transcript to the Inquiry Commission which confirmed remarks made by Imran Khan at the press conference.
“We have noted your complaint and after the proceedings of today’s hearing, we would like to invite you and Mr Pirzada in our chamber”, Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk told Shahid Hamid.Referring to the assertion of Abdul Hafeez Pirzada expressed on Tuesday about printing of 10 percent extra ballot papers in different constituencies, Shahid Hamid submitted before the Inquiry Commission that he had consulted the PML-N leadership at appropriate level.
The learned counsel suggested the Inquiry Commission if ballot papers were printed 10 percent extra in the constituencies, the Inquiry Commission could summon the Returning Officers (ROs) and District Returning Officers (DROs) of the said constituencies.
The Inquiry Commission however, asked Shahid Hamid that he might file formal application in this regard and it would look into the matter.During the proceedings, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, counsel for PTI submitted that he was not going to cross-examine Mehboob Anwar only for the day (Wednesday). He further submitted that it was not correct that all the staff was taken from judiciary during the 2013 general elections.
Similarly, Salman Akram Raja, counsel for Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) submitted that he had not yet prepared the questions for cross-examining Mehboob Anwar adding that he was going to submit some more documents regarding the 2013 elections.
Meanwhile, the Inquiry Commission adjourned the hearing till today (Thursday) at 11.30am.Later, the Inquiry Commission summoned both Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, counsel for PTI and Shahid Hamid counsel for PML-N in the Chamber to look into the complaint of Shahid Hamid in-camera.
Later, after holding meeting with the Inquiry Commission in-camera at the chamber, when Abdul Hafeez Pirzada counsel for PTI was engulfed by media persons, asking the outcome of the Chamber’s meeting, Mr Pirzada strictly avoided to give any details of the meetings for being in-camera.
Shahid Hamid, counsel for PML-N while leaving the court premises with a smiling face also avoided giving details of the in-camera meeting.“I can only say that it will not happen again”, Shahid Hamid however, swiftly said.
PTI Chief Imran Khan, the other day after proceedings of the Inquiry Commission in a press conference said that a systematic pattern in 2013 general elections has emerged, evidence of which was presented before the judicial commission.
Imran Khan claimed that on average, 3% to 4% extra ballots were printed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P); however, in Capt Safdar electorate, who happens to be Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law, 16% extra ballots were printed.
He further said that in Lahore, 120,885 extra ballots were printed in NA-125.The PTI chief had further said that the role of Punjab’s election commissioner Anwer Mehboob in rigging was also evident.