Govt forms parliamentary panel to probe rigging allegations

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Tuesday adopted a motion in the National Assembly to form a parliamentary commission to probe alleged rigging in the July 25 polls.

The formation of the commission had been unanimously demanded by opposition parties, including PML-N, PPP and MMA.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi tabled the motion during the NA session, which was presided over by Speaker Asad Qaiser. The motion, which was discussed and approved by the house, authorised the Speaker to constitute a committee to finalise terms of reference (ToRs) with regards to the investigation into the allegations of rigging. The committee will be constituted in consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition. The commission’s head will be appointed after consultation with the premier.

“We are ready to place everything before the public for the sake of transparency of the elections,” Qureshi said while tabling the motion, and added that they were moving ahead putting aside all differences in the past. He said the PTI had nothing to hide as it believes in strengthening democratic norms and values. The goal of the government and the opposition benches is to ensure free and fair elections in the country, he said.

PML-N MNA Ahsan Iqbal said that all parties should be allowed to present the TORs, which should be discussed and accepted at the later stage. He said the commission should have powers to summon anyone to assist it with the probe.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the commission is being formed on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He recalled how the PTI had to struggle for the formation of a similar commission for a probe into the 2013 elections for four years.

The opposition parties stressed for equal representation and chairmanship of the committee, however, the first demand was accepted but the demand regarding the chair was rejected. After a protracted debate, the Speaker said the committee would be formed according to rules.

Published in Daily Times, September 19^th 2018.