Political parties respond to JC's questions on 2013 poll rigging

ISLAMABAD: Political parties on Wednesday submitted their replies to three questions posed by the judicial commission investigating irregularities and alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.

The three-member judicial commission, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, was holding its sixth public hearing at the Supreme Court in Islamabad today.

The commission had given the 21 political parties until April 29 to submit responses to three questions asking them why they thought the elections were rigged, to specify material evidence and witnesses, to ascertain if they believed the polls were “influenced pursuant to a systematic effort by design by any one” political party or individual, and who designed and implemented the plan to rig the elections.

Among the replies submitted today was that of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), which has led a long-running anti-government campaign in protest of alleged rigging.

The PTI’s reply claims that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its allied parties were behind the plan to rig the elections.

In its response, PTI claimed that it does not have access to the relevant material and said that it was the commission’s responsibility to investigate the matter.

The judicial commission has advised the PTI to submit a list of witnesses and evidence along with an explanation of why each witness has been included in the investigation.

Meanwhile, the judicial commission decided to hold an in-camera session to deliberate over and determine the modus operandi of future proceedings. Lawyers from all political parties will attend the session.

The commission’s proceedings were postponed until May 5.

---

The Questionnaire

Question 1
(a)Do you allege that the 2013 general elections were not organized and conducted impartially, honestly, fairly and justly in accordance with the law?
(b)If so, specify why?
(c) Please indicate the material and witnesses which you will rely on in order to support your allegation.

Question 2
(a) Do you allege that the general elections 2013 were manipulated or influenced pursuant to a systematic effort by design by anyone?
(b) If so please provide the following details:
(I) Who made the plan/design? The material and witnesses which you will rely on in order to support your allegation.
(II) What was the plan/design? The material and witnesses which you will rely on in order to support your allegation.
(III) Who implemented the plan/design? The material and witnesses which you will rely on in order to support your allegation.
(IV)How was the plan/design implemented? The material and witnesses which you will rely on in order to support your allegation.

Question 3
(a) Does the “systematic effort” as mentioned in S.3 (b) include just National Assembly (NA) seats of Provincial Assembly (PA) seats as well?
(b) If NA only does it include all 4 provinces or just confined to certain provinces.

---

The judicial commission has been tasked to investigate allegations of massive rigging and irregularities in the 2013 polls and submit its report in 45 days.

The three-judge commission was formed earlier this month on the basis of a presidential ordinance issued after the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the opposition agreed on its formation following the PTI’s long-running protests and 126-day-long sit-in in Islamabad against alleged electoral rigging.