Want to end horse trading in Senate elections once and for all: Umar

Says current Senate reforms only disadvantage those who use power, money to influence election processes

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar said on Tuesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government wanted to end the corrupt practice of horse trading from the Senate elections once and for all.

The minister’s comments came during a media briefing, held along with Information Minister Shibli Faraz, wherein the ministers ran a recently surfaced video of before the 2018 Senate elections showing lawmakers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa indulging in horse trading.

“You all must have seen this video circulating today, of before the 2018 elections. This is why we thought it is imperative to stress on the importance of Senate election reforms again,” Umar added.

He stated that democracy is not strengthened through the barrel of a gun, instead draws its power from the public’s trust.

“Democracy works when people sitting in the assemblies are trusted by the people who voted them in,” he added.

Also read: Upper house polls: PTI may dominate, but not control Senate

The PTI minister then went on to slam the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying the process it started from Chhanga Manga continues till today.

He said the same parties who were signatory to the Charter of Democracy, that included Senate election transparency as a demand, are now going against the same reforms.

Umar added the Senate amendment being introduced today only goes against those who use their power and money to influence election processes.

“We approached the SC regarding the Senate polls, but thought of introducing the presidential ordinance since it [the SC] is yet to rule on the matter and the Senate election date was nearing,” Umar observed.

He further reiterated the PTI's stance that the party will respect whatever the apex court’s ruling on the matter is.

Cabinet meeting

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz briefed the media on issues discussed during today’s cabinet meeting, including release of old wheat stocks by Sindh government in Karachi and measures taken to curb smuggling among others.

He said during the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan took serious notice of the provincial government releasing “six-year-old” wheat stocks in Karachi.

“Their purpose is to do politics and make money. This incident makes it clear that they are not true to what they claim and say.”

He added that the federal government condemns such a move by the Sindh government.

The minister further informed that the existing trade agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been extended by another three months and the cabinet has given its approval.