The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has always claimed that it possesses sufficient evidence to prove its allegations of rigging in the general election of 2013. Now that the judicial commission has been set up as per its demand, and the party was supposed to present evidence on Thursday, it instead asked for another seven days to reveal all the shocking material that is supposed to bring down the PML-N government. The question is whether the PTI has any evidence at all to support its many claims and accusations, or has it been riling up its supporters and playing dirty politics to mask its shortcomings and failure in the previous election? The public would have to wait for at least one more week to learn the answer. That the PTI has consistently failed to provide credible material to prove widespread, systematic rigging, be it on the media or in election tribunals, makes it extremely unlikely that it will do any better on the next hearing.
Journalist Najam Sethi, former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, former Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday, former Chief Election Commission Farkhruddin G. Ibrahim, the Jang group, the PML-N and some nameless officer of the Military Intelligence (MI) – PTI Chief Imran Khan has repeatedly accused all of them of playing one part or the other in the alleged rigging. The time has come to prove it. To get on a stage and malign people is too easy. To present corroborating evidence is another matter, and in its absence, Mr Khan’s words amount to nothing more than slanderous tales uttered by a defeated political desperado. He better have something to show, or be prepared to face both political and legal consequences. He sure does have a daunting task ahead of him; one that the party has voluntarily took upon itself with much eagerness.
Interestingly, several other political parties, including the PPP and the ANP, have also become involved with the JC. Could they contribute anything substantial? It is unlikely primarily because they do not allege systematic rigging. Their grievances are related to particular constituencies and victimisation at the hands of terrorist groups during the election campaign that may have upset the perquisite even playing field to their detriment. Considering the TORs set for the JC, their involvement will ultimately prove to be inconsequential. In any case, it is hoped that the JC is able to discern fact from fiction within the stipulated time to the satisfaction of all concerned parties.