ISLAMABAD: With the deadline to submit proof in the General Election Inquiry Commission (GEIC) formed to probe alleged rigging in the 2013 general election expired at noon (Saturday), the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and other political parties have submitted their replies.
During its 2nd public hearing on Thursday 23 April, the Inquiry Commission had issued notices to the PML-N and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) with the direction to file their replies, if they so desired, in response to the allegations of rigging leveled against them by the PTI and JI by April 25 till 12 noon.
The PML-N in its reply submitted by Rafiq Rajwana stated the PTI had been complaining of election rigging for two years and the commission was formed on the party's demand.
Despite this the PTI has failed to submit any concrete evidence to the commission. The reply further states that most PTI candidates had accepted their defeat in the election and only five per cent approached the election tribunals.
The PML-N requested the commission to safely conclude the result of the general elections on overall basis (14, 874,104 votes for PML-N, 7,679,954 for PTI, 6,911,218 for PPPP, lesser number for other parties) are a true and fair reflection of the mandate given by the people of Pakistan.
The complainant, PTI, has to specify that who conspired, with whom, where, when and what illegal acts were committed and what illegal means employed, the reply added.
The Commission should safely conclude that there was no systematic design or effort by anyone to manipulate or influence the General Elections-2013 and the elections were held impartiality, honestly, fairly, justly and in accordance with law, PML-N requested the commission.
The PML-N finds no ground to differ with the main thrust of the report submitted by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The PTI petition does not even attempt to show that the PML-N was involved in any manner, or at any level, with the alleged systematic manipulation of the general elections.
Out of 272 directly elected seats of the National Assembly polling was held on May 11, 2013 in 269 NA constituencies and PML-N won 129 seats, PTI won 27 seats. Only 30 PTI's losing candidates for NA seats filed election petitions and 28 PTI candidates challenged elections in provincial constituencies.
The reply further stated that the so-called 'illustrative' statements ade by office bearers of losing parties are a standard practice after all elections in Pakistan to explain away their electoral defeats. Such statements do not in any way invalidate the election results.
The invalidation can only take place through election petitions accepted by the relevant election tribunals. There is no basis for the proposal to establish a Special Investigation Team to inquire into video footage of selected news channels as media interviews cannot and do not constitute evidence of electoral malpractice.
The PML-N in its response stated that reports by international and local observers have value depending upon their reputation for integrity and independence and their technical resources.
The PML-N has a popular mandate to complete its 5 year term and will do so. The PTI is at liberty to make whatever demands its leadership chooses to raise but these must be within the framework of the Constitution and the law.
The PML-N is firmly of the view that he attempt to remove the government through prolonged dharnas on Constitution Avenue, which also affected the working of the Supreme Court and the call for civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes and electricity bills was un-constitutional, the PML-N reply stated.
However, it is for PTI to present evidence that the 2013 general elections were not conducted as per constitutional mandate, that they were systematically rigged under pre-planned conspiracy and that the notified results do not reflect the mandate of people.
If the PTI fails to place any worthwhile evidence before the commission it cannot reasonably or lawfully request the commission to 'fish out' a case for the PTI where none exists.
The PML-N is not an accused in these proceedings because, amongst other things, there is no allegation that the PML-N is a party to any pre-planned conspiracy for systematic rigging, the reply added.
Talking to media men outside Supreme Court after submitting the response before the GEIC, Chairman PML-N Raja Zafar-Ul-Haq said that the party has submitted its response to the commission. He said that PTI has no solid evidence of systematic rigging in the general elections.
The reply submitted by the MQM states PML-N, PPP and PTI committed rigging by spending over the allocated limit on their election campaigns.
Awami National Party leader Bushra Gohar while talking to reporters said that ANP has submitted copies of First Information Reports (FIRs), intelligence institutes reports and Interior Ministry letters as evidence. She said that ANP was allowed to run its elections campaign by the terrorist organizations during the last general elections.
The next hearing of the GEIC will be held on April 27.
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