ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has severely criticised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan for demanding inclusion of intelligence agencies in the proposed judicial commission of the Supreme Court to investigate allegations of rigging in the 2013 general elections and termed the demand ‘unconstitutional and illogical’.

But he said the government could consider holding fresh elections if rigging was proved in at least 50 per cent constituencies.

Addressing a news conference called on Monday to respond to Mr Khan’s latest tirade against the government, the minister declined to comment on an allegation repeatedly levelled by the PTI chief that he (Mr Dar) had confirmed in an affidavit his involvement in money-laundering on behalf of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Mr Dar expressed the hope that the issue of appointment of the chief election commissioner would be resolved in three days. He said Mr Khan should be reasonable and not raise objections over names of respectable judges and insist on someone of his choice.

Inclusion of intelligence agencies in judicial commission termed unconstitutional

He said the leader of opposition in the National Assembly would present three names and the prime minister was required to agree on one of them or suggest one or two more names.

“In democracy, you have to accept decision of the majority and show magnanimity,” he said.

The demand for inclusion of personnel of the Military Intelligence and Inter-Services Intelligence in the judicial commission was strange and had surprised everyone.

“Perhaps he is in some misunderstanding or did not understand that judicial commissions comprise only judges and nominees of agencies cannot be involved in such august commissions.”

Mr Dar said Mr Khan was perhaps interested in the formation of a joint investigation team and not a judicial commission to investigate the issue of rigging, but this was never discussed over the past three months of negotiations between the government and other parliamentary parties and the PTI.

He said the Supreme Court had held in a recent judgment that it did not have the jurisdiction to intervene in election-related matters and the parties should approach election tribunals under Article 225 of the constitution.

But the prime minister demonstrated magnanimity and decided in August to request the apex court to appoint a three-member commission under a 1956 Act to investigate if any planned attempt had been made to bring the PML-N to power. Such a commission comprising most senior judges of the apex court cannot be influenced by anyone.

Mr Dar said the government had written a letter in this connection to the Supreme Court registrar on Aug 13. Whenever the court nominates three judges the government will not hesitate even for a day in notifying the commission.

The minister said the PTI chief should realise that Pakistan was governed by a constitution. It is neither a monarchy nor there is the law of the jungle in which someone can impose his wishes on a commission of apex court judges.

He said the two sides had held 15 meetings to defuse the situation; all discussions were recorded and all demands of the PTI had been accepted. But suddenly Mr Khan ended the talks.

Mr Dar said the government was still prepared to resume the dialogue. But he made it clear that the government had nothing new to offer to the PTI. He said the government was more focused on electoral reforms in order to improve the election process in the future.

He said the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms had held 10 meetings and received 1,283 recommendations which were now being looked into by a sub-committee.

The minister alleged that the PTI wanted to wind up the system on the basis of a sampling of four constituencies, but the government understood the importance and principles of sampling as did PTI’s Jehangir Tareen. He said the two sides had also discussed investigation into a sample of more than 30 or less than 30 constituencies and suggested to keep on increasing the scope of sampling.

“How can you punish 312 or so members of the National Assembly on the basis of a sample of four or 30 constituencies? No party would agree to that and why should they?” he asked.

Published in Dawn, November 11th , 2014