- PML-N and PTI announce TORs for initiating judicial probe into allegations of rigging in 2013 General Elections
- Senator Dar says PTI’s flexibility in stance led to consensus on TORs for proposed judicial commission
- Qureshi says ‘everyone’s a winner…democracy would ultimately benefit from probe’
- Imran Khan thanks supporters for making Dharna successful
After months of tussle between the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, the two sides on Friday agreed on the Terms of Reference (TORs) for forming a judicial commission to investigate allegations of rigging during the May 2013 general elections.
Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, flanked by PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and PTI General Secretary Jahangir Tareen, announced the formation of the judicial commission during a press conference in the federal capital.
Addressing reporters, Dar said that PTI had shown a lot of flexibility which had made the agreement possible. He also thanked the members of the political jirga and appreciated their efforts in ensuring a democratic solution to the standoff between PML-N and PTI. “We are glad that finally a consensus has been achieved,” added Dar.
Terming the agreement a positive step towards strengthening democracy and ensuring transparency of elections, PTI’s Qureshi said, “Everybody is a winner, no one has lost. Ultimately democracy would benefit from it.”
He added that both sides had shown flexibility.
Dar said that they had all agreed in principle to form the commission last December but the only sticking point was the wording of the agreement, which has now been resolved.
Following is the scope of the enquiry of judicial commission:
“The commission shall inquire into and determine whether or not the 2013 general elections were organised, conducted impartially, honestly, fairly and justly in accordance with law (Article 218/3 of Constitution); and whether 2013 general elections were manipulated or influenced pursuant to a systematic effort or by design by anyone; or the results of the 2013 general elections on an overall basis are true and fair reflection of mandate given by the public.”
Qureshi said that, “We want to develop a system which everyone should respect.” The 2013 elections have been under discussion for two years now, it’s important to resolve that issue, he added.
Dar further assured that PML-N will share the copy of the agreement with other political parties and every one would be apprised about it.
IMRAN CONGRATULATES NATION:
The announcement was welcomed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan who thanked his supporters for making the party’s 126-day dharna successful through their unwavering commitment to the cause.
“This success is reflected in the creation of the Judicial Commission which will probe the rigging in the 2013 General Elections. This is the first time in the history of Pakistan that electoral rigging will be probed, despite the fact that every election after 1970 was seen as rigged by the people of Pakistan,” he said.
Khan said the creation of the commission is a victory for the people of Pakistan and for democracy. “It will be a step towards ending the political mafias and their cohorts who deny people their mandate through electoral fraud.”
“We will now ensure that all evidence of rigging is brought before the JC so that the perpetrators of rigging are exposed and punished,” he concluded.
PTI MADE IT POSSIBLE:
Sources told Pakistan Today that the PTI had shown extraordinary flexibility in the recent days to bridge the gaps and to evolve a consensus with the PML-N government for constitution of the judicial commission.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had also found PTI’s point-of-view just and assured its support to the party in this regard.
After the announcement by both parties, the nation could soon see the PTI and its chairman returning to the assemblies. Imran Khan had earlier hinted that the party could consider returning to parliament if the government announced the formation of the judicial commission.