You can level allegations all you want, it is your right but present evidence to back it: CJP Qazi Faez Isa  

ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (SABAH): Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Saturday demanded evidence of his involvement in the rigging of the February 8 elections after Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaqat Ali Chatha leveled serious allegations against the top judge and other authorities. “You level baseless allegations. There is no truth to it nor is evidence presented. You can level allegations all you want, it is your right but present evidence to back it. Whether good or bad, it will be determined later,” the top judge said in reaction to Saturday’s dramatic development.

While talking to media persons during his visit to the memorial of Human Rights being established at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa went on to say that his role was only restricted to the facilitation of the conduct of elections. “If someone did not want elections, that’s another story,” he said.

The CJP questioned his and apex court’s connection to the polls, saying that the court only receive and decide upon petitions linked to elections.

The CJP said that the apex court did not order the elections; instead, it asked both constitutional authorities — the president of Pakistan and the election commission of Pakistan— to stage the elections after arriving at a consensus on the date.

Responding to the allegations, CJP Isa asserted that the allegations of electoral fraud against him were baseless and lacked evidence.

Meanwhile the Supreme Court of Pakistan has decided not to take suo motu notice on the allegations of election rigging leveled by Rawalpindi Commissioner against Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

According to a private TV channel sources, this decision was reached after a consultation among the judges, including Chief Justice Isa, himself.

The allegations, which involve Chief Justice Isa’s purported involvement in poll rigging, were expected to be deliberated upon during a scheduled hearing in an election-related case on February 19.

Sources suggested that there is a possibility of the Rawalpindi Commissioner’s case being considered within the framework of this pre-arranged case.

A consultation meeting chaired by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa was reportedly convened to address the accusations made by the Rawalpindi Commissioner. Justices Muneeb Akhtar, Yahya Afridi, Ayesha Malik, and Athar Manullah were also present during the deliberations. Following a careful examination of the allegations, the participants decided against taking suo motu notice on the matter.