Intelligence officials cannot be part of commission formed to probe rigging: Dar

Dawn.comUpdated November 10, 2014

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ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday said officials of security agencies cannot be included in the judicial commission formed to probe alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections, said a report published on Radio Pakistan.

He was addressing a news conference in Islamabad today along with Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid and Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid.

Dar said that as per the Constitution, a judicial commission only comprises judges and the government will not do anything in violation of the Constitution.

He said nominating members of a judicial commission is the prerogative of the chief justice, adding that even the government cannot propose the names.

Separately, the finance minister said the government was still willing to hold purposeful talks with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, adding that there was no intention of calling them off.

He said the government had met with the PTI approximately fifteen times and that the option of holding negotiations had been closed from the PTI’s end.

Dar also said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had always worked towards electoral reforms and added that the PTI should do the same.

Earlier on Sunday, PTI chief Imran Khan had demanded that members of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) should should sit on a commission headed by the apex court to investigate rigging in the 2013 General Elections.

“People from MI and the ISI should also sit on the commission,” the PTI leader had said, adding that the commission should take six weeks to conduct its investigation.

“If the commission gives the decision that rigging took place, Nawaz Sharif has to hand in his resignation,” Imran Khan said.

He also said that individuals found guilty of rigging should be put on trial under Article 6 of the Constitution.

Read: Imran wants ISI, MI role in poll rigging inquiry

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Comments (60) Closed

pagrri Sanbhaal

Nov 10, 2014 04:00pm

We know you well,you people will not comprise such commission which can expose your filth and dirt.

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ashfaq1

Nov 10, 2014 04:03pm

Does IK know anything about Law? This is a big worry in fact how could iK insult the supreme court by implying that their Judicial commission will be biased and needs men with guns to get justice. I think more and more we are beginning to doubt his state of mind.

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Ali

Nov 10, 2014 04:09pm

Because they don't have any guts to see the black spot on their faces.

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Reader

Nov 10, 2014 04:18pm

What a hypocrite!. Dar says that they wouldn't do anything against the constitution by including them in the judicial commission, yet these politicians continue to take backhanders or shall say bribes which is against the constitution. They seem to interprete constitution for their own purpose. That's why it is vital that IK remains firm in his demands.

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Ganga Din

Nov 10, 2014 04:23pm

There was no need to answer that. By answering you are legitimizing him as a genuine politician.

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A Ali

Nov 10, 2014 04:43pm

o wow............. here HE is again, Mr Finance Wizard, just think about.......... as we almost forgot he is also another feather in the cap of our true democratic PM. Fazl ur Rahman why dont you take Foreign Office seat or may be one of the two Khwajaas who are sitting idle for last one year.

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Naeem Syed

Nov 10, 2014 04:46pm

@ashfaq1 What worries me is your state of mind. The dispute about the elections is that they were rigged and the allegation is that this was done by the RO's under the Direction of Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was the Chief Justice at that Time. If anyone it has to be the The Supreme Court itself that should hold the investigation and and indicate that if the allegations are true it was the Individual, Iftikhar Chaudhry who misused his position as Chief Justice, and should be punished in an exemplary manner, stripped of all strapping's and benefits, so that the trust of the Public at large be reposed in the The Court. These are nothing but transparent Political Statements by want to be Statesmen to save their hides.

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Muneer

Nov 10, 2014 04:52pm

The Intelligence officials may not be members of the judicial commission,but it could be in terms of Reference that the judicial commission could constitute a JIT also comprising the intelligence officials to investigate the 'Rigging Charges and report sent to the Judicial commission on rigging of elections 2013.

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Sab

Nov 10, 2014 04:53pm

It is now very clear that there will be no probe into the rigging allegations. PMLN thinks that it has weathered the storm and now it will continue to play the waiting game and test IK's will to continue the sit-in.

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Qamar Tarar

Nov 10, 2014 04:55pm

why not mr. Dar?

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khanm

Nov 10, 2014 04:58pm

what Mr Dar has to do with intelligence.... he failed to utilize the very own intelligence in the field of finance... he is going to be the new negotiator showing PTI the other side of the green....

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Ahmed12

Nov 10, 2014 05:08pm

Why we even consider this insane guy's proposals. Look at his track record and vision ,absolute dumb .He is bent on involving armed forces in politics on one pretext or other.He wants to come into power not matter what cost this nation will have to pay.

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Hira

Nov 10, 2014 05:08pm

PTI is also playing dirty politics as both PML(N) and PTI are non serious in resolving any of the issues being formation of JIT or acceptance of resignation by PTI MPAs and MNAs. IK by suggesting these kind of measures is just fooling the nation. If IK was sincere he could have spend his effort, time and money (that he is wasting in dharnas and jalsas) for the betterment of KPK people plus he could have started thinking of forming a strong opposition in the parliament and that is how he could have pushed PML(N) to take measures that could have ease the life of a common man after all people have voted him to serve them.

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Muhammad Tahir Jamali

Nov 10, 2014 05:21pm

@Qamar Tarar - you should read constitution of Pakistan.

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Shakil Khan

Nov 10, 2014 05:24pm

If you havent done anything wrong why worry? this itself prove something to hide! This will haunt you forever, come clean or go home!

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beni

Nov 10, 2014 05:27pm

and reason? why not..?

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omer khan shaheen

Nov 10, 2014 05:51pm

What about the ones that PML-N used to cause rigging?

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Babar

Nov 10, 2014 06:03pm

This only HONEST person in Pakistan IK knows about the constitution? The country has to be governed in accordance with the constitution and NOT in accordance with the LIKE and DISLIKE of a single person. Only Dictatorial mindset will suggest to include intelligence agencies in the commission.

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shoukat

Nov 10, 2014 06:07pm

great this finance minister is talking about constitution as if he never did anything against the constitution. Telling lies no mama, involved in corruption no mama, all well in country big yes mama....

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Blister

Nov 10, 2014 06:13pm

@ashfaq1 There is nothing to insult there-He is implying what all of us already believe about the courts.

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Aamir

Nov 10, 2014 06:23pm

Dear Dawn, IK never said person of MI and ISI should sit in commission, he said they should play a part by assisting the commission, just as they are part of any JIT. I hope the Dawn maintain its traditional of balance reporting. Frankly lot of questions arises from ur recent reporting.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Nov 10, 2014 06:46pm

How about "Iteefaq foundry" employees and "Sharif" clan people? Can they be allowed to join the commission?

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Talha

Nov 10, 2014 07:02pm

@Aamir I totally agree with your entire comment. I smell something fishy!!

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kalyan

Nov 10, 2014 07:10pm

I have been observing IK some and I think his sit-ins are now a bit long in the tooth. Though he raises some pertinent points his naivety time to time is stunning. I am still surprised as to how he thought involving military in election probes will help? When the next elections happen he may propose proper tattoo on the hand instead of the ink so that the evidence is indelible!

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Junaid

Nov 10, 2014 07:16pm

Every one in Pakistan if not all do trust Pakistan Army as an institution. At least they trust them more than, political parties, the judiciary, commissions and the parliament because all these institutions have a questions mark on them in one form or another. The Govt. claims that they did not come into the power via rigging and the Pakistani People have give them the mandate. I think this is the best opportunity for them to accept the challenge and let the investigation take its course. Since they have nothing to hide, this will be end of IK politics. Doodh a Doodh Pani ka Pani. Unless PMLN do have something to hide, they will never accept this and will hind behind the rules like they been doing regarding resignations.

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Yousuf47

Nov 10, 2014 07:41pm

The offer of judicial commission like all previous commissions is a trick successfully employed by Zardari and Nawaz has taken a leaf of his predecessor. Imran is unlikely to fall foul of a trick employed too often to diffuse what would otherwise be an explosive situation. If Government is serious, it should withdraw its objections that granted a stay, order Nadra to independently carry out an audit of votes of 4 constituencies and its findings made public. It is obvious Government is guilty of fraud and will not resign even if Nadra found in favour if PTI.

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Ahmed

Nov 10, 2014 07:57pm

Whenever there has to be an investigation at a national level, the government establishes a Joint Investigation Team (JIT). That team has a member from the ISI or Military Intelligence. Why can't that be done here?

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Ahmed

Nov 10, 2014 08:02pm

@ashfaq1 Do you know anything about the law? The judges decision is always on some investigation and proof. Intelligence officers from the military Intelligence of ISI can be part of that investigation. In which world are you living in?

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Zainul Abiden

Nov 10, 2014 08:03pm

@ashfaq1 how can you trust the SC? Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was the Chief Justice of the supreme court at that time, was the Culprit for rigging the election.

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Dr. Sadaf

Nov 10, 2014 08:25pm

@ashfaq1 , IK knows more about the law and respect of law than the party in question, otherwise he also would have resorted to the same game as was played by the other side. As most of you have failed to realize that all departments now have zero credibility, has this judiciary done anything for those 14 innocent people killed, no, then why would they anger the sitting govt. with whom they are a party. All this is our fault because we never hold these so called leaders with all their money outside and ruling Pakistan accountable for their actions. If army was so interested in taking over then they would have reacted to the Model town massacre.

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Dr. Sadaf

Nov 10, 2014 08:28pm

Isn't the guy a finance minister, this press conference should have been done by the home minister not him. I guess this is what happens when you have two third majority and pml(n) in power. Way to go, keep it up.

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Dr. Sadaf

Nov 10, 2014 08:32pm

On second thoughts the people talking about the constitution, do they know themselves what constitution is. I mean , is it in the constitution to take your family members on all expense paid trips, that is our money not theirs.

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Amir

Nov 10, 2014 08:46pm

Ishas Dar is a Finance minister...why is he interfering in Interior Ministry role but even if he is speaking as a representative of the govt why not they be included? The reason being they can control rest of the team but not army which will give fair report based on their investigations...PML N has already been exposed but they have the power wealth police judiciary on ther side so who is going to catch them... This is the sign of QIYAMATwhere illeterate and unwise people are going to rule and we are seeing where the country is heading too. May Allah bless this country.

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A. Aziz

Nov 10, 2014 08:53pm

ID or the government should not have commented on it first. By talking first the SC would now be made to look as if they are echoing the opinions of the government. The government fell into a right trap. Does the constitution say it cannot be done? It is for the Supreme Court to decide what is in the best interest of the nation. Does the SC have the expertise to carry out free and fair audit of the elections? Probably no. Then the nation expects it to garner resources to find a solution to the existential problem we are facing.

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afzal

Nov 10, 2014 08:59pm

If you haven not done anything wrong why worry? this itself prove something to hide! This will haunt you forever, come clean or go home!

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z khan

Nov 10, 2014 09:05pm

IK next demand would be that he will do investigation himself

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Meherban Cheema

Nov 10, 2014 09:18pm

With every passing day PML-N government is proving that there is something which they are trying to hide desperately, i guess the sane approach would be to form commission as per the auspices of IK, at least it can solve the rigging charges once for all.

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Syed Ahmed

Nov 10, 2014 09:29pm

The fear is, if intelligence people are incorporated into the commission probing the rigging allegations, the cat will be out pf the bag.

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Qamar

Nov 10, 2014 09:31pm

Rigging elections is a criminal act, and intelligence officials can probe criminal acts. PMLN does not like the idea of intelligence official in the probe because they (PMLN) will be exposed.

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Dawn Reader

Nov 10, 2014 09:34pm

@Dr. Sadaf Imran had tried his level best that General Musharraf should made him his Prime Minister (Musharraf had subsequently confessed this fact in an interview to PTI's now master Mubashir Lucman). Imran was the Chief Campaigner of General Musharraf's sham referendum, whose result was announced by the ECP the same day (and Imran mysteriously remained silent!). The stock market had a historic fall (Black Monday) during Imran's dharna and fake claims of "rising of umpire finger" through fake deadlines. The value of PKR also fell suddenly. It is now when the majority of people have recognized that Imran Dharna is a big failure that economy is bouncing back.

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Mustafa J.

Nov 10, 2014 09:47pm

I am sorry to say that it will be gross injustice to every single winning candidates in 332 constituencies in 2013 Election if there will be a blanket rule to declare the Election of 2013 null and void. It would require, in my mind, 332 grieved candidates to make application to courts to null and void results of his/her constituency on grounds that if the voting was not rigged then he/she would have been the winner. Mr. Imran Khan can not be the grieved person for all 332 constituencies.

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Haider Rehman

Nov 10, 2014 09:47pm

Why? They cant be bribed?

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Saleem

Nov 10, 2014 10:04pm

Imran Khan desperately wants army to get involved. Why did he turndown the offer of army chief to act as guarantor. The government should continue with its work and let Imran Khan continue with his dharna.

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Muhammmed

Nov 10, 2014 10:08pm

Does a tailor sell meat or a taxi driver fly planes....NO they would stick to their own profession....so my advice to Dar ji is worry about your own dept and leave other's to do their job. Har fun muala..

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Dr. Sadaf

Nov 10, 2014 10:12pm

@Haider Rehman , I am sure these people will for sure find a way to do that even, they have lot of practice.

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Roshan

Nov 10, 2014 10:13pm

@Shakil Khan PMLn won fair and square and has no objection to review by a judicial commission led by the CJ whom IK also trusts. But ISI and MI were not formed to check rigging, their involvement will politicize them. Imran Khan you can continue with your dharna and crying but the government will not get bullied by you.

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Jadoo

Nov 10, 2014 10:14pm

That is the most ridiculous demand from IK after the announcement of civil disobedience movement in his dharna. The man has no idea what he is talking about. It's like giving legitimacy to the intervention of these organisations into political domain.

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Tanveer

Nov 10, 2014 10:43pm

Judicial Commission will take years to make some honest decision.

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Confused

Nov 10, 2014 11:13pm

The job of an intelligence agency is to attain intelligence for national security. Only countries where intelligence agencies have a say in the political process are tinpot countries like Assad's Syria and Sisi's Egypt. The fact that Imran believes that intelligence agencies should be part of the political process is reason enough to not support him but actively oppose him.

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Qamar

Nov 10, 2014 11:53pm

@Muhammad Tahir Jamali . Have you read the constitution??? Inquiry tribunal may have members from any relevant organization.

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Gawal Mandi ya

Nov 11, 2014 12:20am

Here is my question,why in the world is the finance minister giving the people of Pakistan a sermon on the constitution??????? Everything we do in Pakistan is backwards,thats why we continue to go back instead of moving forward.At what point will the people of Pakistan realize that the PPP and the PML-N are making a total fool of us????

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Common man

Nov 11, 2014 12:24am

You are right but it does not make any difference to Ik . He is beyond any logic. His script writers have plan B to implement thru judiciary and they are progressing towards their goal.

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Afaq Ayub

Nov 11, 2014 12:41am

The government has reservations over ‪ImranKhan‬’s demand to include officials of ISI and MI in “Judicial Commission”, what about just changing the name to the “Joint Investigation Team”? If PM can call in army to facilitate the negotiations than what’s wrong in including them in the investigation team?

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kirther

Nov 11, 2014 01:25am

Not only security agencies but this commission must also include citizens and experts from different areas as full member of this commission, unless this commission is neutral and independent from government influences it will not be able to deliver justice to voters and the nation.

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optimist

Nov 11, 2014 02:44am

I agree. I think Imran Khan is very fast losing his credibility by putting too many silly conditions.

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Salman ahmed

Nov 11, 2014 04:02am

@Muhammad Tahir Jamali Maybe you should read it first .... and the relevant law which permits exactly what IK is asking for. Oh... and while you are at it, ask your Mr Dar to read it as well.

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Pragmatist

Nov 11, 2014 04:23am

Why not? These are the only agencies that are free from Nawaz Sharif and his brother's interference.

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Ali

Nov 11, 2014 04:59am

Dar liar is on record admitting that he did money laundering for his Samdi. Pear is minister only because his son married Nawaz sharif daughter. Dar has no qualification, he is ruining Pakistan's economy and should be in jail soon

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Jawad

Nov 11, 2014 05:34am

Yes sir. Otherwise we will all get caught. So tell me again , why should I do that?

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Nov 11, 2014 06:04am

If the Judicial Commission appointed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court summons the Chiefs of ISI and the Election Commission, the Government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should have no objection whatsoever, as that step will be deemed to have been taken within the jurisdiction of the Judicial Commission and therefore in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973.

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