General Election 2013 Inquiry Commission (GEIC) on Monday asked all the parties that if they intend to submit written briefs in the matter, focus should be on responding in accordance with a questionnaire provided by the Commission by June 24.
On April 27, GEIC Chairman Nasirul Mulk raised three questions to get political parties opinion over allegations that the general elections 2013 were not organized and conducted impartially, honestly, fairly and justly in accordance with law and if so, specify why?
The commission asked the political parties to indicate the material and witnesses which they (political parties) will rely on to support their allegations. In second question, the commission asked the political parties is; whether they allege that the elections 2013 were manipulated or influenced pursuant to a systematic effort by design? If so, the commission asked to provide the details as to who made the plan/design-the material and witnesses on which they will rely to support their allegations.
The commission further asked as to what was the plan/design, the material and witnesses, on which they will rely to support their allegations. The GEIC also inquired from the political parties to tell who implemented the plan/design which they will rely to support their allegations and also tell as to how have plan/design implemented and the material and witnesses which they will rely upon to support their allegation. Does "systematic effort" as mentioned in S.3 (b) include just National Assembly (NA) seats or Provincial Assembly (PA) seats as well? If NA only does it include all four provinces or just confined to certain provinces," the commission asked the political parties.
Issuing a short order in the matter after holding its meeting on Monday, the GEIC said that the Commission has finished the recording of evidence on June 19, 2015 and directed all parties, if they so desired, to file written briefs/synopsis/skeleton arguments by June 24, 2015, in their submissions the parties shall remain focused on the matter.
The GEIC issued directives to all the parties of the case saying, "The parties shall: a) show through the evidence produced before the Commission how their reply to the questionnaire provided by the Commission is made out and b) show through the evidence produced before the Commission how their party's position in respect to each Term of Reference (TOR) as contained in S.3(a),(b) and (c) of the Ordinance is made out".
The GEIC further said that at the time of oral arguments in the week commencing from June 29, 2015 these areas again should be focused on. "Such an approach will best serve to assist the Commission in answering its TOR's which it is solely mandated to do under Section 7 of Ordinance No VII of 2015," the GEIC said.