Shahbaz criticises PM Khan for not forming parliamentary body to probe ‘rigging’

Published September 8, 2018
Shahbaz Sharif claims that the people did not elect Imran Khan but “he secured power through rigging”. —APP
Shahbaz Sharif claims that the people did not elect Imran Khan but “he secured power through rigging”. —APP

PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced to form a parliamentary commission to probe the opposition's allegations regarding rigging, “but three weeks have passed but the commission has not been formed yet”.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore — flanked by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and former ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Marriyam Aurangzeb — the former Punjab chief minister also criticised that the PTI-led government has increased the prices of electricity and fertilisers in the first 20 days of its tenure.

Shahbaz Sharif further claimed that the people did not elect Imran Khan, instead “he secured power through rigging”.

Commenting on the accountability and austerity measures initiated by PM Khan, Shahbaz Sharif alleged that advertisements worth millions were given for the auction of luxury cars, adding that “accountability should be held across-the-board”.

Regarding the call for donations for the Diamer-Bhasha dam, he said that there was no need to make an appeal for funds, instead, "the investors should be encouraged to invest in the mega project".

Responding to the allegations levelled by the Leader of Opposition in National Assembly, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said, “The opposition has so far failed to elaborate the nature of their rigging allegations.”

The minister said the government was ready to constitute a commission but the opposition has not yet submitted Terms of References (TORs) to probe the alleged rigging charges.

He regretted that the opposition was using the issue of election rigging as a political stunt, that too without producing any concrete evidence in this regard. “The opposition should better present concrete proposals to probe the alleged rigging,” Chaudhry maintained.

Opinion

Editorial

Missing in action
17 Mar, 2026

Missing in action

NOT exactly known for playing a proactive role in protecting the interests of Muslim nations and populations...
Risk to stability
Updated 17 Mar, 2026

Risk to stability

THE risks to Pakistan’s fragile economic recovery from the US-Israel war on Iran cannot be dismissed. Yet the...
Enrolment push
17 Mar, 2026

Enrolment push

THE federal government has embarked upon the welcome initiative to enrol 25,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad...
Holding the line
16 Mar, 2026

Holding the line

PAKISTAN’S long battle against polio has recently produced encouraging signs. Data from the national eradication...
Power self-reliance
Updated 16 Mar, 2026

Power self-reliance

PAKISTAN’S transition to domestic sources of electricity is a welcome development for a country that has long been...
Looking for safety
16 Mar, 2026

Looking for safety

AS the Middle East conflict enters its third week, the war’s most enduring victims are not those who wage it....