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PPP, JUI-F ‘deeply involved’ in horse trading for Senate polls
* PTI chief says federal government is not sincere in bringing constitutional amendment in favour of ‘show of hands’ procedure in upcoming Senate polls
ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Monday accused the PPP and JUI-F of being “deeply involved in horse-trading”, saying that the federal government was not sincere about bringing a constitutional amendment in favour of open-ballot in the upcoming Senate elections. In a statement on Monday, Imran said that he had spoken with PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on a one-point agenda, that is, to bring an end to horse trading in the Senate elections which, he said, was destroying democracy in Pakistan, especially in the wake of the “rigged 2013 general elections”. “It was because of PTI’s commitment to ensuring transparent and fair elections that it had demanded open balloting for the Senate elections. When the PML-N government showed its readiness to move in this direction, PTI expressed its support and sent its representatives to the APC called for this purpose. However, it has become evident that the government’s intentions to end horse trading by bringing in a constitutional amendment were never sincere and that is also reflected in Nawaz Sharif leaving for Saudi Arabia at this crucial time,” the PTI chief said. He regretted that his efforts to persuade Asif Zardari to oppose horse trading have also failed. “The PPP remains opposed to open balloting because it is deeply involved in horse trading along with JUI F.” Imran said that the PTI would in no way support the PPP or PML-N in their “undemocratic and corrupt designs for the Senate”. Imran Khan said he himself would lead PTI’s efforts to ensure a clean Senate election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and “expose the horse trading presently taking place”. He said there was no deal nor can there ever be any deal with any party on Senate elections. The PTI chief reiterated that his conversation with Zardari was on a one-point agenda of ending horse trading in Senate elections. “In the same vein, PTI’s participation in the APC on a constitutional amendment was also an effort to end horse trading that is going on in the upcoming Senate elections.”
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk