Pak judicial body examines third witness during 2013 vote rigging probe

A three-member headed by Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk on Thursday recorded the statement of former election commissioner Anwar Mehboob in connection with vote rigging allegations related to the 2013 general elections.

Mehboob was the third witness to testify before the judicial panel about irregularities during the 2013 general elections.

On Wednesday, the first day of the recording of statements, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had produced two witnesses before the commission.

The two officials informed the judicial panel that the election commissioner of Pakistan's Punjab Province, had sought the recruitment of 200 man just days before the polls. However, the purpose of their appointment was not mentioned.

The PTI, led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, had led a relentless campaign against the Nawaz Sharif-led government, accusing it of massive fraud during the elections.

The party had also submitted the names of a prominent journalist and a former caretaker chief minister of Punjab, Najam Sethi, as witnesses in the case.

Despite Khan claiming that he has evidence of poll rigging having taken place, he has not submitted any proof before the commission so far.

The opposition Pakistan Peoples' Party had on Monday submitted a list of 65 constituencies which it wanted probed for vote rigging.

The 2013 general elections, which saw the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in the country's history, was swept by Prime Minister Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League, which won 166 of the 272 seats.

Imran Khan, however, had claimed that the polls were manipulated in favor of the PML-N.

An election tribunal had on Monday disqualified Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique after it found evidence for misappropriation of votes in at least seven polling stations in his constituency.