Imran moves ECP against PM’s Senate horse-trading claims

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Wednesday approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking a probe into Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s reported claims of horse-trading in Senate elections.

The PTI chairman moved an application, requesting the ECP to summon the premier to provide proofs to substantiate his claims.

He said PM Abbasi has consistently been claiming that massive horse-trading took place in the polls for the Upper House of Parliament. His statements are deemed important because of the office he holds, the application said while asking the commission to thoroughly investigate his allegations.

Earlier in the day, the ECP put off hearing of a case with regard to alleged horse-trading in the Senate elections.

At the previous hearing, Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza remarked unfortunately, those who sold their votes and those who bought them were parliamentarians.

It was widely reported that horse-trading was committed in March 3 elections for 52 Senate seats. He added that purchasing and selling of votes was a serious crime.

Addressing the politicians and representatives of parties who attended the hearing, the CEC said the rationale behind summoning them was to seek their assistance for an investigation into the matter.

He said successful senators bagged more votes than their parties’ representation in the respective provincial assemblies.

Uzma Bukhari said PTI senator Sarwar Chaudhry himself admitted in a TV talk show that six of the PML-N lawmakers voted for him.

PTI lawyer Shahid Gondal said the party had already formed a committee to carry out a probe against the lawmakers who voted for candidates of other parties instead of their own.

The electoral body took notice of media reports about alleged horse-trading in Senate elections and directed politicians making such claims to come up with proofs if they have any.