ISLAMABAD: The PML-N stressed before the poll inquiry commission on Monday that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had no admissible or credible evidence to support the allegations about rigging in the 2013 general elections.
The PML-N through its senior counsel Shahid Hamid insisted that there was no plan, no design, no conspiracy and no systematic effort to manipulate 2013 elections by the party. The elections were organized by the Election Commission as per its constitutional mandate and overall the results were fair and a true reflection of the mandate.
In its statement, the PTI had alleged that the architects of the rigging were the PML-N and its supporters. It said returning officers, presiding officers and other polling officials, elements of the election machinery and bureaucracy were also a part of this design and they also aided and facilitated the implementation of plan.
The PML-N argued that verbal and documentary evidence produced before the Judicial Commission by any party should be in accordance with the provisions of the Qanun-i-Shahadat Order 1984 and subject to the limits prescribed by the presidential ordinance.
Two of the 58 petitions of PTI have been accepted, 44 dismissed and 12 are pending. And out of the total 411 petitions, 45 have been accepted, 328 dismissed and 38 (18 NA and 20 PA seats) are pending. The preponderant majority of challenges to individual NA and PA seats had thus been rejected, the PML-N said.
PML-N reiterated that recent local bodies’ elections in cantonment boards in which the PML-N won 68 seats against 42 by the third-placed PTI had further confirmed PML-N’s victory margin in May 2013.
The PML-N said it had not filed any list of witnesses but reserved the right to call up witnesses that might be necessary in the light of statements made by the witnesses selected by the commission and in the course of proceedings.
Referring to a proposal by the PPP to open election bags, the PML-N said it would violate Article 225 and sections 9(2) and 10 of the presidential ordinance.
Neither the PML-N nor any of its returned candidates are responsible or liable in any way in the preparation, custody and maintenance of the record contained in the election bags. The fact that it is lying in the district treasuries does not mean that it is in control of the PML-N government.
The PML-N said the commission must itself select constituencies, not only from each province but also of returned candidates of each political party and that also only after due notice was given to such returned candidates and they were heard.
In its statement, the PPP had requested the commission to order opening of polling record of 65 constituencies of the National Assembly for inspection.
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