LAHORE: Former caretaker Punjab chief minister and anchor Najam Sethi has written a letter to the three-member judicial commission auditing the 2013 general elections to start its investigation from summoning him as he is eager to respond to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan’s allegations against him.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasirul Mulk is heading the inquiry commission to investigate the alleged rigging in May 2013 elections. Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan are the other two judges on the first-ever special judicial commission of the Supreme Court.

“I have great confidence in the impartiality of this commission, and I request it to place the allegations leveled by Imran Khan against me as ‘agenda number one’ of this commission to be investigated immediately,” Najam Sethi requested in the letter.

Also read: Rigging probe: Judicial commission to conduct public hearings from April 16

He said the nation had reposed trust in the institution of the Supreme Court to ascertain the fact whether or not the 2013 elections were free and fair and in accordance with the TORs of the Ordinance governing this judicial commission.

“I would like to submit to this honourable commission some facts which may help it come to some concrete conclusion.

....Unfortunately, over a year after the elections, the PTI and Imran Khan have scandalized and maligned me for allegedly rigging the elections and a malicious and false story was concocted in the name of `35 Punctures’ to discredit me. No evidence, direct or indirect, has been presented at any forum or in the media. Meanwhile, I have sued Imran Khan for defamation but he has refused to appear in court and provide evidence in this regard.”

Mr Sethi further said that the campaign had damaged his reputation and grievously engaged him in political controversies. “I am ready to testify before this commission whenever desired”.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2015

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