ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A three-member Judicial Commission headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasirul Mulk formed to probe the alleged rigging in 2013 general election has declared the polls organised, fair and according to the law.
In its 237-page report, the Judicial Commission said that concluded that general elections held in May 2013 were in large part “organized and conducted fairly and in accordance with the law.”
The commission held that the plan or design to manipulate or influence the election has not been disclosed with any degree of specification by any of the parties to the proceedings. It is also not discernible from the material placed before the Commission.
It said that despite some lapses by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), it cannot be said on the evidence before the commission that on an overall basis the elections were not a true and fair reflection of the mandate given by the electorate.
The Judicial Commission also said that the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was not entirely unjustified in requesting the establishment of body to inquire into its suspicions and allegations regarding the 2013 general elections.
The report has been made public and is available on the website of the Ministry of Law and Justice of Government of Pakistan (www.molaw.gov.pk).
The Judicial Commission has reached the following conclusion based on evidence:
- 2013 elections were conducted fairly and in accordance with the law
- PTI’s request for a probe was not “entirely unjustified”
- Plan to manipulate election has not been disclosed with any degree of specification by any of the parties
A copy of the judicial commission’s report published on the Ministry of Law website. |
The Judicial Commission led by the Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk and comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal was formed after President Mamnoon Hussain on April 3 issued an ordinance for setting up a judicial commission on the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The formation of the Judicial Commission took place following an agreement between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PTI for a judicial commission that will investigate allegations of rigging in 2013 general elections.
