Pakistan’s Sharif calls for end to political wrangling

The three-member commission, headed led Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk, and comprising and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Amir Hani Muslim on Wednesday sent a 300-page report to Ministry of Law which was later forwarded to Prime Minister House for approval to make it public.

The three main allegations of the PTI included organised rigging in the 2013 general elections, non-transparent polling and theft of the public mandate.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with legal experts and advisers after receiving a report by the judicial commission.

“The commission’s report is also a validation of the concept that issues can be resolved through constitutional forums and not on roads or through sit-ins”, he said in a veiled reference to Tehrik-e-Insaf’s protest campaign that had paralysed life in Islamabad for over two months past year.

The Prime Minister referred to the havoc caused by flash floods in different parts of the country and said the Federal Government would do everything for compensation of losses of the affected people and their rehabilitation. “It is a proof that the problems are solved in the parliament, not on roads and streets”, he said. In an ongoing operations against terrorists and Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace dialogue to have been appreciated.

The report further said that “allegations against those allegedly involved in the plan/design to influence the outcome of the elections also remained unsubstantiated by the evidence on record”.

The Prime Minister said after the elections, he continued with the constructive tradition of mutual consultation, reconciliation and consensus. A judicial commission has rejected opposition allegations of fraud during the 2013 parliamentary election.

The panel has asked the law ministry to itself take a decision about publicizing the report, insiders said.

He went on to say that despite provocations the government demonstrated extreme restraint to pave the way for resolution of the issue of rigging through democratic spirit. “We also expect those, who wasted the precious time of the country and nation, now learn the lesson and refrain from negative politics”.