Horse-trading and rigging still on rise in Senate elections

The Senate elections did take place despite all the rhetoric of conspiracy by the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). As expected, the party that stands victorious following the polls is undisputedly the same party.

However, horse trading and culture of rigging was on rise in the polls. In quite an unexpected move, most of the political parties blamed each other for rigging and horse trading in the latest polls.

PPP’s Syed Khurshid Shah while speaking to the media said they did not have Rs 300 million to purchase legislators. He observed, “My visit to Quetta is to monitor the party members in Balochistan to keep them together so that they do not desert the party”.

He responded to a question about the PML-N allegations of horse-trading in the Senate elections, saying they did not believe in the corrupt practices.

In the meantime, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussian accused the PML-N of rigging in the Senate polls, clarifying their party did not support Mohsin Leghari’s bid for a Senate post. He also expressed his displeasure over Leghari’s adventure to contest Senate election and terming it a violation of the party regulation.

In his view, Leghari violated the party discipline by participating in the Senate polls, adding that Kamil Ali Agha was their party candidate for the senate elections.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan too alleged that money was used in the Senate polls. In his view the leaders of the nation should be elected, not the traders and mercenaries.

He demanded that the election should be annulled where money was used, adding that the independent judiciary should take notice of the rigging in senate polls.

On the occasion, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the federal minister, said that Mohsin had not submitted any application expressing his intention to contest the Senate polls. He expressed detest for the PML-N to support Leghari, saying it was old ploy of Sharif Brothers to steal other parties.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti was of the opinion that they are in power therefore they did not need rigging. Considering their strength in the provincial assembly, they had nominated candidates for the Senate, he added.

PPP’s minority wing leader in Balochistan, Hina Gulzar boycotted the Senate election, who was contesting the polls over the special seat. She complained that she had been given ticket by the party on the special seat a couple of days before the polling the party changed its decision, nominating Dr Ramesh Kumar for the minority seat.

Rejecting the allegations of Hina Gulzar, Aslam Raisani said she was never nominated a candidate by the party, vowing the Senate Elections in Balochistan were transparent and rigging free.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Mar 3 2012. Filed under National, Opinion, Pakistan, Politics, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.