Pakistan's Sharif calls for end to political wrangling

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday called for an end to political squabbling after a high-level judicial commission validated the 2013 polls that had won by his Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).

Opposition parties had claimed rigging in the general elections.

A judicial commission, formed earlier this year to inquire into the allegations of rigging, has concluded in its report that the polls were in large part organised and conducted fairly and in accordance with the law, Xinhua reported.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasir ul Mulk headed the three-member Commission.

The commission was constituted after opposition party Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan had alleged the polls were rigged in favor of the PML-N.

Other opposition parties joined the Tehrik-e-Insaf later to claim rigging and had submitted their proofs to the inquiry commission.

"The judicial commission has not only the endorsement of the government's point of view on the issue of electoral rigging but also authentication of people's mandate," Sharif said in an address broadcast live on television.

"The commission's report is also a validation of the concept that issues can be resolved through constitutional forums and not on roads or through sit-ins," he said in a veiled reference to Tehrik-e-Insaf's protest campaign that had paralysed life in Islamabad for over two months last year.

"I am confident that those who wasted precious time of the nation would also learn the lesson and desist from negative politics.

"We should consider verdict of the inquiry commission as a milestone and embark on a new journey on the road to progress and prosperity and get rid of chaos, uncertainty and instability," he said.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan said he would accept finding of the commission which complied the report after hearing all parties over the past four months.

The commission presented the 237-page report to the government on Wednesday.