Parliament to set up panel to investigate poll ‘rigging’
islamabad — The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a motion to constitute a special parliamentary committee to finalise terms of reference (ToR) and prepare recommendations to investigate allegations of rigging in the general elections.
Lawmaker Mohammed Ali moved the motion to give mandate to the committee for recommending investigation procedure into alleged rigging in the last general elections.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the government and opposition parties have agreed to constitute a committee on the basis of equal representation. He said it was also agreed that the chairman of the committee will be nominated by the prime minister after consultation.
He said it was also agreed that only member of the National Assembly will be member of the committee. Qureshi thanked the opposition parties for extending cooperation for the constitution of the committee.
He said, “We do not want to keep anything hidden. It is the opposition’s rights to protest and their reservations have been registered.”
Qureshi said, “Transparent elections are imperative for democracy.” Further, he assured the House that the commission will be empowered.
“We have to move forward despite our differences,” he asserted. Qureshi said the committee would be all-powerful to carry out its work. He said the PTI had nothing to hide as it believes in strengthening the democratic norms and values.
He said that transparency would not be compromised under any circumstances. —