JEDDAH/ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Friday that his party would not return to the national and provincial assemblies until a transparent judicial commission is formed by the government to investigate alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.
While speaking at a press conference here in Jeddah, Imran Khan said that the PML-N government is 'more corrupt' than the last PPP government.
He said that his party would take part in the Senate elections due in March. He criticised the government for putting people in trouble due to petrol crisis, saying it was the government's inefficiency as the masses suffered a lot due to the crisis. "Free, fair elections, independent judiciary and media are necessary for democracy,” he said.
It may be mentioned Imran Khan is on a private visit to Saudi Arabia where he along with his wife performed Umrah Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said on Friday that Imran Khan has not stopped telling lies even after performing Umrah. Reacting to Imran Khan's press conference in Jeddah, Rashid advised him to concentrate on his 'Ibadat' as he (Khan) went to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
Rashid said that addressing a press conference in Saudi Arabia on a day when King Abdullah passed away shows 'intelligence' of Imran Khan.
Also on Friday, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said the government is ready to form Judicial Commission for probe into the alleged election rigging within the parameters of the law. Talking to newsmen in the federal capital, Ahsan Iqbal said if PTI wants Judicial Commission to investigate whether there was any massive or organised rigging in 2013 general elections or conspiracy to defeat PTI then the Commission can be formed within hours. However, if PTI wants to form the Commission on its terms of reference involving some administrative lapses it will be contrary to the constitution.
He said in this case “we will have to create a consensus taking other parties into confidence”. He said it also requires amendment in the constitution.
Commenting on NA-122 vote recount result, Ahsan Iqbal said that the absence of stamps on vote counterfoils was simply mismanagement but it cannot be termed rigging.
To a question, he said no operation of any kind is being carried out against Madaris. He said Wafaqul Madaris should review syllabus of Madaris. The minister said all indicators of economy are positive and Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) is doing record business.  He said despite numerous challenges, journey towards country's betterment is continuing. He said: “We will go to the people in 2018 after overcoming loadshedding and elimination of terrorism.”
He said the government is focusing on internal capacity building of institutions which was ignored over the last many years.