Vote-buying concerns: Ruling party’s FATA MPs walk out of assembly

MNAs alleging that billions of rupees have been invested ahead of elections for the upper house

ISLAMABAD:

The lower house of parliament paid homage to former acting chief justice Rana Bhagwandas for his services to the judiciary, observing a one-minute silence at the outset of the session.

During the session, the ruling party’s MNAs from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) staged a walkout from the National Assembly proceedings on Wednesday, alleging that billions of rupees have been invested ahead of elections for the upper house.

MNA Shahabuddin Khan said that 11-member Fata parliamentary group in the lower house has been divided with six independent MNAs on one side and five lawmakers of PML-N, PTI and JUI-F on the other.

He requested the relevant authorities to do the needful to block the entry of paid lawmakers ahead of Senate polls.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2015.