NAVEED BUTT & AAMIR SAEED

ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday presented a copy of the agreement on constitution of the judicial commission probing rigging allegations in the National Assembly and urged the PTI to take back its rigging allegations on general elections 2013.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said this while reading out the contents of an agreement between the PTI and the ruling party on the judicial commission.

PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the commission has admitted in its report that irregularities were committed in the general elections but the party has accepted the report in good faith.

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said the commission’s report should be tabled in the house for a discussion while Senator Ishaq Dar also welcomed the proposal.

Dar, however, said that the PTI is not abiding by its agreement as according to the written contract, it is stated that if the elections are found to be transparent and fair, then the PTI will take back all its rigging allegations.

The minister went on to say that the Inquiry Commission was created through consensus of all political parties, including the PTI.

“If the verdict of the JC turned out to be against the PML-N then we were bound to conduct re-elections,” he said.

The finance minister also added that the PTI had endorsed the agreement regarding the Inquiry Commission. “The PTI is now bound to withdraw all its allegations regarding rigging in the elections as per the agreement,” he said.

He said the PTI should take part in the parliamentary committee on reforms to expedite the process of electoral reforms; so that free and fair elections could be held in the country. “Let’s start afresh to make Pakistan a progressive and developed country,” he said. PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the party has accepted the commission’s report despite the reservations and it is a big step forward. “We have been struggling for better democracy in the country and it is a national responsibility that the PTI has done,” he said.

Qureshi said that it is the first commission that has made its report public and this would help the democracy to strengthen. “The commission’s report has pointed out lapses in the electoral system,” he said, adding that the commission’s findings are against expectations of the PTI.

“We should work together to strengthen the election commission through electoral reforms. We are ready to sit with the government to ensure cogent electoral reforms,” he said.

He went on to say that, “Instead of being on the streets today, we are in the Assembly, so it’s a step forward which should be recognised.

The PTI leader added that, “Now we all should learn from our mistakes and move forward.”

He also said that 21 political parties alleged rigging during the elections and PTI tried its best to take the allegations to a logical conclusion, adding that the matter was taken up at every forum and eventually PTI was forced to protest.

A three-judge commission released its final report last week, saying the polls were largely fair and in accordance with the law.

MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that his party is being victimized and the legislators are also being frightened. The law enforcement agencies have sealed the restaurant of the MNA Ali Raza Abidi and the house should take notice of it, he said.

“Around 40 workers of the MQM have been killed and 140 have been kidnapped so far,” he said, adding that the Rangers operation in Karachi has been only targeting the MQM.

He urged the speaker to give a ruling on it. He urged the prime minister and interior minister should also announce a clear policy on the Karachi operation.

Sattar also said that a judicial commission or a powerful parliamentary commission should be constituted to probe allegations that the PTI used ill-gotten money for its dharna in Islamabad.

The Chief Minister Punjab has also said that a parliamentary commission should be formed to probe the allegations against PTI, he said. PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi, however, said that a commission should also be formed to probe the allegations of murders, extortion and links with India against the MQM to ascertain facts.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Parliamentarians also walked out from the House in protest against the ongoing operation in Karachi, terming it discriminatory.

Speaking from outside the National Assembly building, MQM leader Dr. Farooq Sattar alleged that law and constitution is being violated by ‘the law enforcers’ in Karachi.

Earlier, the National Assembly also passed a bill, “The National University of Medical Sciences Bill, 2015.”