Ex-CJ rubbishes Imran's 'absurd' rigging allegations

Published May 6, 2014
Former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.   — File photo
Former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday rejected the rigging accusations made against him by Pakistan Tehreeak-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, terming them as 'baseless', DawnNews reported.

The former chief justice said that Returning Officers (ROs) for the 2013 elections were appointed by the Election Commission of Pakistan and not by him. He added that the 'absurd' allegations hurled by the PTI chief did not warrant a response.

Earlier in May, PTI chief Imran Khan had openly criticised the former chief justice and the Jang/Geo group for their alleged involvement in the rigging during the 2013 polls. Khan had asked the current chief justice to take notice of how, with the support of former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, this powerful media house had ‘stolen’ the general elections in favour of one party.

He alleged that when the now-retired chief justice made an unprecedented appearance at a lecture for returning officers before the general elections, it sent a signal to the TV channel that declared the PML-N victorious when only 20 per cent of votes had been counted.

Speaking to the media after addressing the Islamabad Bar, Chaudhry said the judiciary had been serving justice and would continue to do so.

He added that the constitution had defined the roles of the judiciary and the armed forces of Pakistan and he was sure there would not be a clash between different state institutions.

Ex-Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said both the judiciary and armed forces were not debatable topics.

He also demanded the payment of compensation to the victims of the Islamabad court attack on March 3, in accordance with Justice Shaukat Siddiqui's report on the matter.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.