ISLAMABAD: As the voting will be held for crucial Senate elections today, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that he is still in favour of open balloting to avoid the horse trading. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Tuesday called on Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and discussed strategy for the upcoming Senate polls.
During the meeting, the premier said that the opposition parties were taking all the measures to ensure victory in the Senate elections. I supported open ballot in the polls to avoid horse trading, he added.
PM Imran further expressed hope to win the elections in the upper house of the Parliament.
On the other hand, ECP has decided to conduct the Senate elections scheduled on March 3, 2021, through secret ballot due to time constrain.
While announcing its decision after considering various proposals, the commission has clarified that the polls will be held as provided in the Constitution and Law as per past practice.
Earlier, government coalition parties Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) had announced their support for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Abdul Hafeez Sheikh.
Talking to media after meeting the leaders of the coalition parties, Abdul Hafeez Sheikh said that March 3 would be a historic day and we will win Senate elections. He expressed hope that the Senate elections would be transparent and there would be no buying and selling of the votes.
Buzdar, Hafiz meeting
Meanwhile, Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar and Hafiz Sheikh have called on Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and exchanged views on Senate polls and situation in Punjab.
The CM Punjab informed PM about his meetings with the members of National Assembly (NA) and the problems facing them.
The PM directed to resolve the problems facing all these parliamentarians. Hafiz Sheikh informed the PM about his meeting with the parliamentarians from ruling party and its allied parties. Hafiz Sheikh said he will surely win the Islamabad seat.
Sources said PM said during the meeting that opposition parties are using every tactics to win the Senate polls. I was for this reason supporting the Senate polls through open vote. Letters are being written to PTI members of assembly and they are being contacted. But we are united.
PM said that resolving the matter of senate seats in Punjab amicably is a good omen. He held opposition will invest money and give inducements. But Islamabad seat will be won by Hafiz Sheikh.
Asad Umar
Federal Minister Asad Umar while expressing deep regret over the political situation in the country has said that massive horse-trading is being done in the Senate elections.
In a statement on Twitter, Asad Umar said that millions of rupees are being offered to buy votes in Senate elections wishing to end this practice in the future.
He said that people are witnessing the darkest form of democracy adding that there was a commotion on the assembly floor, people are selling and buying votes for the Senate elections.
Asad Umar said that all is happening on the name of democracy but despite horse-trading the opposition will not get anything. He wished to end this dirty business at least in the future.
Fawad Ch
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said that opposition is fighting a already lost battle of Senate elections.
The federal minister in a tweet said that political opponents of the government will start crying foul within 24 hours and will find new excuses to keep their presence on TV screens.
Fawad Chaudhry further said that immature politics of the opposition changes direction daily as they dont have any policy or strategy.