Inquiry Commission's 2013 election rigging report handed to Law Ministry
3 member inquiry commission was formed after talks between PTI and the government.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The inquiry commission formed to investigate alleged rigging in 2013 elections handed in its report to the Law Ministry on Thursday. The sealed report has been presented to the Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif who will decide on making the report public. Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal had earlier claimed in a tweet on social media website Twitter that the judicial commission’s report has dismissed all accusations made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding rigging in elections of 2013. PTI’s spokesperson Naeem-ul-Haq stated that they will give their stance once the official report of inquiry commission comes. He stated that decisions were being made beforehand and if there is a report than it should be shown.
According to the details, PTI had staged a protest for 126 days in Islamabad during which accusations were made of stealing the mandate and rigging of elections on a large scale. PTI called for inquiry to be made to investigate these claims. A 3 member inquiry commission was formed after talks between PTI and the government.
The formation of inquiry commission presided by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk included Justice Ameer Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal. The inquiry commission tried to answer three major questions which were whether or not there was organized rigging in the election, whether the election of 2013 was transparent and neutral and did the results of election 2013 reflect the mandate of the public.
39 meetings of inquiry commission were held out of which 2 were in camera and 1 was in the chamber.
Statements of 15 witnesses were recorded from Election Commission while statements of 16 witnesses were recorded from PTI. Additional Secretary Sher Afghan, former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Najam Sethi, Election Commission and returning officers of Punjab and other provinces were also examined.
Inquiry Commission also demanded a record of Form 14 and 15 of whole country. Hearings of 86 in total were held.
