The General Election 2013 Inquiry Commission (GEIC) has turned down Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) allegations of an organised rigging during 2013 elections, declaring the elections were fair and in accordance with law.
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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 commission held 40 hearings in the Supreme Court building in Islamabad spread over more than two months.
As soon as it was released, a copy of the report should have been provided to the PTI on principle, Khan said adding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was lucky to have read the report before him (Imran Khan). According to the report, “the Commission is of the view that the PTI was not entirely unjustified in requesting the establishment of a body to inquire into its suspicions and allegations regarding the general elections 2013”.
The report blamed Election Commission of Pakistan for the irregularities that took place during the General Elections 2013 and stated that the staff was not trained sufficiently.
Excerpts from the report indicate that allegations against those claimed to be involved in a systematic plan or design to manipulate or influence the election “also remained unsubstantiated by the evidence on record”.
The report also states in clear words that none of the allegations levelled by the PTI and other parties against any individual or institution were proved.
The text from the conclusion part of the 274-page report has been reproduced below.
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It was also to decide whether or not the poll results, on an overall basis, were a true and fair reflection of the mandate given by the electorate.
