Will not tolerate horse-trading in Senate polls even at cost of dissolving K-P Assembly: Imran

Says MPAs who dissent from party decision will be kicked out; next course of action to be decide after Senate polls

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has said that his party is willing to go to any extent to stop horse-trading in the upcoming Senate elections, even it means dissolving the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

“If we find out that any MPA does not vote for the party candidates; he will be kicked out of the party…,” he said while addressing a press conference in Peshawar on Wednesday. “…We will even dissolve the assembly if there is a requirement, and will hold new elections.” He was accompanied by Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq and K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.

The PTI chief argued that any MPA who dissents from party decision, i.e. does not vote for party's Senate candidates, could be put in jail and tried according to sections of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

He added that PTI MPAs will not even give their second vote to opposing candidates, including those from the Pakistan Peoples party, the Awami National Party, the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl and the Qaumi Watan Party-Sherpao.

“We will note for any party of the status quo party,” he said. “Only our allies will get out vote.”

Imran added that the next course of action will be decided after the party’s committee meeting on March 6, a day after the elections of the Upper House of Parliament.

He criticised the current system where “Senators were elected by spending money” and vowed to change the voting pattern in Senate polls, either through direct voting or open balloting.

Imran added that there were seven Senate candidates from PTI, all of whom belong to their domicile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and were selected on merit unlike other parties.

“Our founding member Fouzia Kasuri wanted to contest but we did not allow her [as she is from Punjab],” he said.

‘2015 is the election year'

The PTI chairman said he foresees 2015 as the year of elections as his case of alleged poll rigging in NA-122 was now being overseen by NADRA.

“Rigging will be exposed once there is finger print verification from NADRA,” he said.