Oath-taking marred as opposition protests ‘spy cameras’ found in Senate

The Senate session was marred by commotion on Friday as 'spy cameras' were found by the opposition members above and inside the polling booth installed for the elections of the chairman and the deputy chairman of the Upper House.

Presiding Officer Senator Sayed Muzafar Hussain Shah ordered the electoral staff to make a new polling booth agreed upon by the government and the opposition members.

PPP's Mustafa Nawaz Khokar tweeted a picture saying that he and " Musadik [Malik] found spy camera right over the polling booth."

Talking to the media outside the parliament he asked, how the security of the [Upper] house was breached.

“Who allowed this to happen? There was a complete plan to steal this election. We would hold consultations as to who should investigate this breach of the secrecy of election.” he said adding that those responsible should be punished according to Elections Act 2017.

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He added that responsibility for the Senate's security lies with its current chairman, secretary and the head of the security.

"We will decide whether the Senate's committee should investigate the matter or the police," he added.

Former Chairman of the Senate Raza Rabbani protested that "there is no provision to install cameras in the polling station. The elections are to be conducted according to the Constitution."

In response, Information Minister Shibli Faraz accused the opposition of getting the ‘spy camera’s installed.

“They [opposition want to sabotage the election,” Shibli said speaking to the media.

Faraz said the matter of installing cameras should be investigated.

“Those who were exposed today know where they are standing,” he said, “These master conspirators have been trying to make the elections controversial from the beginning. Why did they support the secrecy of the ballot when PM Imran Khan called for an open ballot?

He added that PTI aims to rid the country of these corrupt practices. “They [the opposition] had been buying and selling votes ever since they came into politics.”

Taking to Twitter later, the senator accused the opposition of installing cameras in the polling booth.

Taking to Twitter, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said the opposition’s sinister plan of cameras in polling booth was exposed.

“The tactics used in senate elections in NA by opposition where they converted majority into minority using all criminal tactics. That’s why PDM opposed open ballot. The era of loot and plunder taking last breath,” the federal minister said.