As the judicial commission continues to examine evidence related to allegations of rigging in the 2013 general elections, there is a distinct lack of new evidence among the proofs that has been placed before the three-judge panel so far. Dawn spoke to Muddassir Rizvi, head of programmes at Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) to get a sense of how the evidence presented before the commission so far holds up.

Q: Is any of the evidence that is coming before the judicial commission actually new?

A: Surprisingly, I don’t see anything new as all this evidence – in one way or the other – has been presented before the media, mainly by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. For example, the printing of extra ballot papers and the alleged role of returning and presiding officers, have already been talked and written upon in both the electronic and print media. So far, most of them are unsubstantiated allegations.

Q: What’s your take on the overall working of the judicial commission?

A: Frankly, it’s not an inquisitorial commission as explained in its terms of reference. Instead, just like a routine election tribunal, political parties have been asked to prove their allegations and counter allegations with admissible evidence. We were expecting that the commission, using its powers, will actually investigate whether the last general elections were rigged or not on its own. This, unfortunately, is not happening. However, as a result of these proceedings, the people are being educated about the social and political mechanics of elections and there is discussion over what loopholes need to be plugged for free and fair elections.

Q: What is your opinion of the way political parties have presented their arguments before the commission?

A: I find them ill-prepared. I think most of the opposition parties, notably the PPP, are mainly banking on Imran Khan and the PTI. The reason for that is that most of them have exhausted their legal options before election tribunals and have nothing new to present before the commission. That’s why they are asking the commission to open ballot bags for further evidence. As far as the PML-N is concerned, it shouldn’t give the impression that it is supporting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The ECP must limit its arguments to the defence of the election process, whereas the ruling PML-N can defend its position against the allegations which the PTI had been levelling against the party leadership for quite some time.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2015

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