Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Saturday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was unable to provide any plausible evidence to the General Election Inquiry Commission (GEIC), as it failed to quantify the effect of the alleged irregularities on the votes cast for or against the candidates of various political parties. The GEIC formed to probe alleged rigging in general election on April 23 said in its order that certain allegations have been made against PML-N and MQM by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami, (JI) respectively.
The GEIC chairman, Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, issued notices to PML-N and MQM in response to PTI and JI allegations saying, "It will therefore be necessary to issue notices to the said political parties who shall file their responses, if they so desire, by April 25 noon before the secretary of the Commission". Complying with the Commission's directives, the PML-N submitted, "the PTI petition does not even attempt to show/aver that the PML-N was involved in any manner, or at any level, with the alleged systematic manipulation of the General Elections 2013".
The reply maintained that out of 272 directly elected seats to the National Assembly polling was held on May 11, 2013 in 269 NA constituencies - PML-N won 129 seats, adding that the PTI won 27 seats and only 30 of PTI's losing candidates for NA seats chose to file election petitions, including 19 in Punjab.
"Another 28 PTI candidates challenged elections in provincial constituencies - these figures shows that a sizable majority of PTI's candidates accepted, rightly and in good taste, their electoral defeat," the reply added.
Replying to an allegation of the PTI about unauthorized, unlawful printing of additional ballot papers, the PML-N said that this allegation is to be answered by the ECP and the Pakistan Security Printing Corporation. The PML-N filed a 118-page reply to the Commission through advocates Supreme Court Shahid Hamid and M.Rafiq Rajwana saying the general elections 2013 were conducted impartially, honestly, fairly, justly and in accordance with law.
The PML-N submitted that the PTI has to specify, amongst other things, who conspired, with whom, where, when and what illegal acts were committed and what illegal means were employed in the general elections 2013. The PML-N repeatedly said that the election were not manipulated or influenced pursuant to a systematic effort or design by anyone, adding that the results of the general elections on an overall basis are a true and fair reflection of the mandate given by the electorate.
The MQM has not submitted its reply in the matter as its counsel Dr Farogh Nasim intends to appear before the GIEC on April 27. While talking to media, Dr Farogh Nasim said that he will appear in the public hearing of the Commission on April 27, saying due to worst law and order situation in NA-221 and PS-47, the MQM was unable to launch election campaign. He said that MQM candidate of provincial assembly form PS 47 Fakhurl Islam was assassinated in the general elections.
Dr Nasim said that MQM will urge the GIEC to seek details of advertisement contracts of the PTI, saying if an inquiry over the expenses of the PTI, PPP, PML-N elections campaign is carried out then all the results could be declared null and void. Meanwhile, PML-Q, and Mohajir Qaumi Movement also submitted additional proposals to the commission.
Comments
Comments are closed.