PPP, JI, PTI, ANP, others submit ‘rigging’ proof to JC

ISLAMABAD: Major political parties of the country on Wednesday submitted evidence of alleged rigging during the 2013 general elections before the judicial commission.The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) presented proofs and supporting documents regarding alleged rigging in the general elections.
The three-member judicial commission constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk for investigating alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections in its first meeting held on April 9 had sought evidences and proposals by April 15 from the political parties who participated in the elections for its consideration.
Former Punjab governor and senior leader of the PPP Sardar Latif Khosa along with former federal minister for information Qamar Zaman Kaira and party workers submitted proofs and supporting documents regarding alleged rigging before Muhammad Hamid Ali, secretary to the commission.
The PPP submitted summaries of fact findings about the National Assembly constituencies including NA-51, NA-62, NA-98, NA-124, NA-138, NA-139, NA-181, NA 202 and Provincial Assembly constituencies including PP-175 and PS-85.
After submitting the proofs of allegation in general elections, Latif Khosa told media persons outside the Supreme Court that if the judicial commission recommends the annulment of General Elections 2013 then the Parliament and political parties of the country will decide about the new elections. He said that for the first time a judicial commission has been constituted whose report and findings would be made public.
Similarly, Senator Afrasiab Khattak and information secretary of the ANP Zahid Khan also submitted proofs and supporting documents regarding alleged rigging.
Talking to reporters, Afrasiab Khattak said although they had accepted the general elections held in May 2013 but they had also expressed some reservations on the conduct of the polls. He said that they have submitted proofs before the judicial commission regarding rigging in the general elections in Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He further said that they were subjected to psychological pressure, asking them not to participate in the general elections, adding that the state which is responsible for providing security to the citizens, but it did not provide them security despite the fact that their president had requested the chief election commissioner to provide security to their candidates.
Likewise, the JI also submitted proofs and supporting documents through Mian Aslam, central naib ameer, Shahid Shamsi, central leader, and the party’s Karachi head Naeemur Rehman pertaining to rigging held in Karachi and Fata.They told the media that they have provided the commission videos, CDs and documentary proofs of rigging in the general elections.
From FATA, the JI leaders including Sahibzada Haroon Rashid, former MNA JI from Bajaur, presented proofs of rigging in NA-43 Bajaur, while Sardar Khan from NA-44 presented before the commission proofs of rigging and Muhammad Saeed Khan from NA-36 Mohmand Agency also provided proofs of rigging in his constituency.
Similarly, Imtiaz Ranjah from PML-Q also filed documents before the commission while deputy secretary general Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Khalid Waqar Chamkani also filed documents in his personal capacity before the commission.
Similarly, the PTI through their central leader Ishaq Khan Khaqwani also presented all proofs of alleged rigging. The first hearing of the judicial commission in the open court will take place today (Thursday).