By IANS,
Islamabad : The transparency of Pakistan’s Senate polls have come under question after “charges of horse-trading and vote-buying” marred Friday’s elections, said a daily.
An editorial in the News International Saturday said: “What was until now mere suspicion has become official: The Senate is being bought up in bits and pieces, Rs.650 million per bid, to be precise.”
“Elections on 12 Senate seats have been marred by charges of horse-trading and vote-buying and many leaders have come forward and urged the Supreme Court and the Election Commission to take notice of the situation,” it said.
Opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar said selling and buying of votes was a shameful act and “we should be choosing our leaders instead of electing merchants”.
“What is even more appalling is the audacity with which some leaders have resorted to dishonesty in the polls. For instance, (Pakistan Muslim League-Q lawmaker) Pir Qadir Gilani announced that he would favour the PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) candidate after agreeing to a last minute deal of Rs.650 million worth of funds.
“What’s worse, Gilani was bold enough to announce his decision to accept the funds at a press conference, saying he had done this for the larger interest of his constituency in Balochistan.”
The editorial went on to say that the transparency of the Senate polls has “come under question….”
The matter is “critical for Pakistan at this stage when parliamentary processes are going through trial and error and democracy is trying to take root in the country”.
“Indeed, what will become of the sanctity of the vote and transparency of parliament if an MPA (Member of Provincial Assembly) can openly get away with admitting before the media that he has been assured huge funds for voting for the ruling party’s favourite candidate,” the daily asked.