- Commission headed by CJP Nasirulk Mulk comprises Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Amir Hani Muslim; first meeting today
- Imran Khan welcomes formation of commission, congratulates party members and nation on ‘landmark achievement’
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday announced the formation of a three-member commission headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk to probe alleged rigging in the 2013 general election.
The commission was formed following the ordinance issued by President Mamnoon Hussain to proceed with the formation of a judicial commission which would investigate allegations of poll rigging, a demand made by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during the party’s 126-day-long sit-in in Islamabad last year.
According to the statement issued by the apex court, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Amir Hani Muslim will be the other two members of the commission which is headed by the chief justice. The commission will hold its first meeting on April 9 (today) at the SC building.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan, while reacting to the news of formation of judicial commission, congratulated his party members and the nation on this landmark achievement.
Imran was addressing a press conference in Hyderabad when the news broke. He thanked party members for their support. The announcement was followed by slogans of ‘Go, Nawaz Go’ by the party members present at the occasion.
After Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier this week gave the go ahead to a draft agreement for setting up the judicial commission, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced the signing of an agreement between the PTI and PML-N for the formation of the aforementioned.
Chief negotiator from the government’s side, Ishaq Dar had said the commission would determine whether or not the last general elections truly reflected the will of the people, preferably within 45 days.
“In case the commission determines that the election results did not reflect the true mandate of the people, the national and provincial assemblies will be dissolved and followed by fresh elections. Otherwise, all of PTI’s allegations over the veracity of the election will stand withdrawn and the party will return to the National Assembly to play its democratic role,” Dar said.