Parliamentary committee to probe alleged rigging in 2018 elections

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a motion authorizing the Speaker to constitute a committee to finalize terms of reference (ToRs) with regards to investigation of allegations of rigging in the general elections 2018. The committee will be constituted in consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition. The motion, moved by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the committee will take further steps as mandated in the ToRs. Responding to the points of Ahsan Iqbal and Shazia Mari, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the committee will be fully authorized to carry out its work. He said that the PTI has nothing to hide as it believes in strengthening the democratic norms and values. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that transparency will not be compromised under any circumstances. He said the goal of both the government and opposition benches is to ensure free and fair election in the country. The foreign minister said it has also been decided that the chairman of the committee will be nominated in consultation with the prime minster. Syed Naveed Qamar and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf of Pakistan Peoples’ party and Khurram Dastgir of PML-N demanded that the head of this committee should be from the opposition. Responding to the points of the PPP leader, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said the committee is being constituted on the special directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan which shows his graciousness. He said Imran Khan had demanded opening of only four constituencies in the wake of 2013 general elections but the PTI had to protest for it for four years. The information minister said that the government has accepted the demand of the opposition for the constitution of the committee. Taking the floor, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said the opposition benches should not doubt the intent of the government. Speaker Asad Qaiser said the committee will be constituted as per the rules. Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak and Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi have said all the people of Pakistan, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, language and area, are equal in the eyes of the Constitution. They were responding to a point of order raised by Ali Wazir regarding a publicity video of the Punjab Government in which Pashtun people were linked with subversive activities. They assured the House that stern action will be taken against those responsible for preparing the advertisement. The House has now been adjourned to meet again on Monday at 4:30pm.