PTI accuses ECP of delaying JC proceedings

Islamabad
While all eyes are set on the outcome—an early outcome—of the probe that was going on in the high powered Supreme Court Judicial Commission, the two rival parties, the PTI and PML-N leadership, continues to create aspersions by interpreting the day’s proceedings in their own way and according to their own choice. Both make tall claims of victory of their respective standpoints. The PTI, the main complainant in the proceedings, on Monday blamed the ECP of non-cooperation which, it said, was delaying the proceedings and finalisation of its task which it appears may take a number of more days than the tentative deadline of 45 days.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the three Supreme Court judges Judicial Commission, probing alleged rigging charges in general elections 2013, complained that the Election Commission of Pakistan was main hurdle in timely completion of the arguments as the party was not being provided the papers it desires.
The Judicial Commission’s inquiry proceedings, it appeared, may linger on for quite some more time as the counsel for PTI Abdul Hafeez Peerzada said he could not give a definite time when he will be able to complete arguments when the Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk quizzed him about probable time he was going to complete his arguments.
Talking to the News at the end of Judicial Commission’s proceedings for the day, PTI’s senior leader Ishaq Khakwani said he was waiting for provision of form 15 containing information with regard to number of ballots provided to various returning officers and number of ballots used. He said ECP Secretary Yaqub Khan had admitted giving evidence in the Judicial Commission on Monday that the commission was seeking the said forms from returning officers which will be submitted in due course of time. However, the government’s counsel had already committed before the commission that the said forms will be deposited by Tuesday.
Zafarullah Khan, Special Assistant to the PM on Cabinet, expressed his dismay over what he said “unnecessary dragging of the proceedings by rival PTI, adding that there was very little hope that the final probe report would soon come out. He asked the PTI to withdraw its application after having failed to produce any of its witnesses rather than harassing the government officials.
While the PTI senior leadership, including Imran Khan, makes their presence in the Courtroom No1 felt, only junior N-Leaguers like Danial Aziz, Zafarullah Khan and Talal Chaudhry reach the court. Imran Khan reached driving all the way from Lahore.