Senate polls: APA president decries horse trading

Says sale of votes ahead of Senate elections is ‘condemnable’.

SHABQADAR: All Parties Alliance President Malik Daud Khan criticised horse trading, which he said, can be seen ahead of the Senate elections.

At a meeting held in Ekku Ghund, Mohmand Agency, he talked about the sale of votes and said the act of legislators selling their votes for millions is condemnable. Members of FATA Political Parties Alliance present at the meeting demanded the Political Parties (Amendment) Act 2011 be implemented.

They also asked that action be taken against the political administrator of Upper Mohmand Agency, Zeeshan Abdullah, for issuing show-cause notices against Mohmand Press Club. Participants of the meeting said the political administration issued the notice because the press club conducted a news conference against them for supressing workers of political parties in the agency.

The political administration does not cooperate with the tribal elders, said the spokesperson of the alliance, Arshad Khan. “They also have a dismissive attitude towards workers of parties in the agency.”

All FATA Doctors Association president Dr Zareen Safi said the political administration harasses public servants. Safi also said he would support the protest to be carried out by the alliance on March 5.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2015.