SC forms commission to probe alleged poll rigging
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ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan announced the formation of a three-member commission headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk to probe the 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-i-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 at SC building.
Also read: Is the judicial commission ‘constitutional’?
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 government negotiator 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 Otherwise, all of PTI’s allegations over the veracity of the election will stand withdrawn and the party will return to the National Assembly to play its democratic role,” Dar said.
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Comments (52) Closed
Apr 08, 2015 06:21pm
This is wow.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:25pm
Great news! Thanks IK. Even if the move fails to discredit the legitimacy of the incumbent government it may still prove to be a springboard for electoral reforms.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:28pm
Another drama unfolds.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:34pm
Ik we will remember you for your services to ensure free and fair election for our next generations for 1st time in history of pakistan.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:36pm
This is a landmark achievement towards a true democracy. It is hoped next election may not be exploited by at least of some voice (PTI) presence of accountability and supervision
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Apr 08, 2015 06:37pm
The respected judges of the Commission have a huge responsibility. I pray, that they decide honestly in the interest of Pakistan. May God bless the people of Pakistan.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:38pm
Ik you rock. We love you its your victory. Now go to parliament and take part in reforms for next election.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:41pm
now this commission will decide the sanctity of the general election 2013.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:45pm
credit is due to ik. I request is to please 1st open the constituencies of Karachi where ecp,s official itself said that we were failed to conduct election in Karachi.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:58pm
Respected Judges are requested to seek the help of of ISI and IB for this probe as well.Their inclusion would make this investigation more transparent and trustworthy for the people of Pakistan.
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Apr 08, 2015 07:00pm
This is a good start, especially Chief Justice rightly decided head this bench and included judges with least number of controversial verdicts as supreme court justice. However, I am particularly looking for recommendations with regard to "punishment" for those election conducting officials who were involved in rigging - irrespective of for whom they did rigging. This will set a precedence for the FIRST time in Pakistan history and future election officials will think twice before rigging for someone.
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Apr 08, 2015 07:02pm
i am surprised to read the news...Article: 225 Election dispute
225. Election dispute.-No election to a House or a Provincial Assembly shall be called in question except by an election petition presented to such tribunal and in such manner as may be determined by Act of 1[Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)].
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Apr 08, 2015 07:20pm
Imran Khan stood up for my vote, I will stand up for him.
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Apr 08, 2015 07:23pm
Well done IK. While the so called media and the liberals were mocking at you, indeed you delivered.
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Apr 08, 2015 07:24pm
Great work IK and PTI. This has happened because of 120+ days Dharna.
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Apr 08, 2015 07:24pm
Outcome may not be good. But, I think it is better for Pakistan prosperity.
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Apr 08, 2015 07:32pm
Bravo !
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Apr 08, 2015 07:43pm
IK is a leader who would be rememberd for generations..........what an achievment
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Apr 08, 2015 07:46pm
Truth should come out and all parties should accept it.
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Apr 08, 2015 07:50pm
I hope the Commission is able to arrive at right findings.
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Apr 08, 2015 07:50pm
Now from where the evidences will come. Now its the time to give solid proves not verbal statements will work so imran when your next dharna will begin and where - to get rid of the situation!!!
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Apr 08, 2015 07:50pm
Imran should allow the commission to do its work and submit report before talking about its outcome. His statements are something akin to his allegation of rigging. It amounts to the commission's findings being already fixed according to his (Imran's) liking.
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Apr 08, 2015 07:52pm
We love u Imran...hope the judges will do their job very honestly. .
hurrah
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Apr 08, 2015 07:53pm
Well-done PTI! Now it's up to the SC to decide the veracity of 2013 elections
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Apr 08, 2015 07:57pm
So the moral of the story is do a sit-in in front of parliament, attack the parliament, attack govt. institution, insult everyone for 100 days and you will have the govt. kneeling down to do any and every thing that is otherwise deemed unconstitutional. What a joke!
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Apr 08, 2015 08:10pm
Thanks IK for u r a man of steel!! we all know karachi and lahore elections were rigged...let the truth come out with fresh elections!!
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Apr 08, 2015 08:12pm
So when do the 45 days begin?
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Apr 08, 2015 08:20pm
Salute to IK!
You sir, Your team, Your Party and Your True Believers showed great determination and will power to stand for Your True Principles of Equality and Democracy for all.
The Sons and Daughters of this nation are ready for your call IK to root out the corrupt mafia hindering the developement of this nation to its brighter future.
Salute IK Sir Salute to your unwavering Courage and Principles.
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Apr 08, 2015 08:20pm
my only request to honourable CJ, if the election was not fair then nullify it, if it was fair then endorse it and reprimand the accusers but for the sake of God and justice please don't base ur decision on doctrine of necessity or national interest.
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Apr 08, 2015 08:23pm
i just hope our judges come through and sort this out once and for all. No one wants the democracy to derail but rigging is not acceptable either and it is a fact that rigging took place. Now one could say, there might not be any rigging or very minimal rigging in the polling station selected by IK but it still does not address that there are several other stations where result is not what it should be. None the less, it is a good precedent set by IK and the next general elections will be much more cleaner and fairer.
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Apr 08, 2015 08:31pm
45 more days...
I bet nothing will come out of this commission in favor of PTI.
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Apr 08, 2015 08:34pm
Now where are those who said that imran khan were given face saving and commision will not be formed.
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Apr 08, 2015 08:34pm
This time the ball is in the court of a reliable institution.Hopefully,the truth and veracity will prevail.
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Apr 08, 2015 09:32pm
I will request people to remember - this commission is not to prove who is right or wrong rather it is to ensure people (yours and mine) votes get counted now and also in future, irrespective of who did you vote for.
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Apr 08, 2015 09:34pm
Test of judiciary. Be honest.
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Apr 08, 2015 09:41pm
hopefuuly PTI and Gov accept the decision wholeheartedly and without ifs and but.
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Apr 08, 2015 09:49pm
@Rakaposhi well said
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Apr 08, 2015 10:05pm
And now there will be someone filing a petition to this order. All big drama like "house of cards".
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Apr 08, 2015 10:17pm
IK, well done... we have to yet strive a lot for making Pakistan a true democratic society. A society where layman's mandate stand supreme and sacred and state system ensure it's protect.
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Apr 08, 2015 10:33pm
Credit is due to IK and PTI ..do please give it to them
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Apr 08, 2015 10:39pm
One day,when the history of Pakistan will be written,this will be known as a water shed event.Thankyou Imran Khan ,PTI and all those people who struggled for 126 days to achieve this.
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Apr 08, 2015 10:42pm
How about the poll rigging in the past? Who will address that vital problem?
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Apr 08, 2015 11:22pm
IK you win or loose at least you are the only and only one who is fighting for injustice, corruption,and for the basic rights of human .
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Apr 09, 2015 12:09am
Too little, too late.
The delay in the decision to form the judicial commission bought enough time for the culprits to wipe off any evidence of poll rigging. I don't think the commission will find anything against the incumbent.
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Apr 09, 2015 12:15am
Hopefully the JC will lay the foundation of an independent ECP
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Apr 09, 2015 12:39am
@Waqas You may be correct, however, what is likely to come out of this is a set of irregularities/corruption practices. That, in turn, will be the foundation of the next round of debate for electoral reforms - that's my expectation, anyway. And, that will be real accomplishment.
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Apr 09, 2015 01:30am
SC should issue ORDER that no statement by all political parties leaders including PM and his ministers, all tv anchors and in all tv talk shows the process of this judicial commission be questioned, answers , responses and much more etc.. should be stopped till the out come of this judicial commission. Any violator no matter who he is should be awarded 6 month RI with immediate affect. No disturbance, no influence for commission.
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Apr 09, 2015 04:15am
@Waqas
IK did his part. Did we do ours for the country??????
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Apr 09, 2015 05:51am
@Awais Ali
How does this ensure free and fair elections ?
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Apr 09, 2015 05:55am
@Rakaposhi
Bhutto too promised "Roti, Kaprha, aur Makan" to the poor to kill poverty but killed the poor instead. Slogans alone don't solve the problems and undoable slogans must be treated as a crime against the voters.
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Apr 09, 2015 07:56am
Pak has most fair elections in 2013.
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Apr 09, 2015 08:05am
The first election I remember was Ayub's BD elections - rigging was open and rife and people in authority at the polling station in Karachi were ensuring that rigging goes smoothly. It has gone worse since and let,s see if the judiciary will show the moral strength - tv channels have shown clips after clips of the cavalier way the candidates were allowed to register without any checks and the disaster at many polling stations. People know the system is corrupt and the elections were rigged but people do not matter as the corrupt elite has the control.
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