PTI expels twenty members for selling votes in Senate elections

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Wednesday announced to expel twenty members who were allegedly responsible for horse-trading in the Senate elections last month.

PTI chairman Imran Khan while addressing a press conference said that the party made several people successful, but there was no place for those who harmed the workers by selling off their vote.

Those who have been accused of horse-trading include Sardar Idrees, Zahid Durrani, Abdul Haq, Qurban Khan, Amjad Afridi, Arif Yousaf, Javed Nasim, Yasin Khalil, Faisal Zaman, Dina Naz, Nargis Ali, Nagina Khan, Obaid Mayar, Fouzia Bibi, Naseem Hayat, and Samiullah Alizai.

The members also includes Meraj Humayun who joined from the Quami Watan Party, Khatoon Bibi, and Babar Saleem joining from the Awami Jamhoori Ittehad, and Wajih-uz-Zaman who joined from the PML-N.

He said that show-cause notices will be issued to twenty members, and if no response is received then the party will take diciplinary actions. He further said the investigating committee will hand over the names of those held responsible in horse trading to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

He said that alleged lawmakers received Rs40 million each, and lauded other members who resisted the temptation of taking large sums offered by other parties.

The PTI chairman said that several names were received soon afterward who were involved in selling off their votes. However, the party wanted to reveal their names after thorough investigation.

He said the practice of horse-trading was being held in the Senate elections since the last four years, and no one was ever held responsible for receiving corrupt payments for voting.

“Since forty years, people make deals in Senate elections. Our system does not catch anyone who accepts bribes for stamping a paper,” he said.

Imran expressed his disappointment that a parliamentary committee was recommended to change the election system to no avail. He said the incumbent prime minister raise his voice about horse-trading after losing the elections, and only when it suited him unlike previous elections.

“It is unfortunate the prime minister created a commotion over the selling of votes. Every time this happens in the Senate elections, it does not affect them,” he said.

Imran Khan dared other parties if they the ability to take similar steps and expel those responsible, saying they had taken the initiative as it harmed the party. He said the PTI by expelling nearly 30 percent of its leaders was truly protecting the sanctity of the vote.Editor’s Pick: Pakistan General Elections Update

He said the procedure for the Senate elections should be free, fair and transparent. He said the tickets for next general elections will be allotted on basis of merit, and those attempting to use the influence of money will be disappointed.