Senate polls: PML-N bags all 11 seats, PTI gets flak for ‘double game’

PPP leader alleged that PML-N MPAs’ votes were being monitored.

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek –i-Insaf came in for criticism by both treasury and the Pakistan Peoples Party members for its “double game” as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won all 11 Senate seats available in the Punjab on Thursday.

In recent days, the PPP had sounded confident about the chances of their general seat candidate Nadeem Afzal Chan.

Polling started after the assembly session, which began at 9am, was adjourned after a few minutes by Deputy Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani. It was suspended after some PPP lawmakers alleged that ballot papers were being taken to be shown to the chief minister before being cast.

PPP’s Shaukat Basra said balloting was not transparent. He also said PML-N members were being monitored. He complained about the presence of Pakistan television’s cameraman in the polling area.

When Basra took up his reservations with the Election Commission, the cameraman was removed. PPP’s Raja Riaz alleged that voters were being forced to show their ballots before casting.

Ehsan Riaz Fatyana, an independent member, too, raised similar concerns. He claimed that they were being threatened with the presence of hidden cameras monitoring the polling.

MPA Sobia Sattee received emergency medical care as she collapsed during polling. She was helped by Rescue 1122 officials.

Several lawmakers tried to take their supporters inside assembly building during polling, causing heated arguments with security staff. PPP’s senior leader Raja Riaz was particularly agitated when his supporters were stopped from entering the building.

The matter was taken up in Gorchani’s chamber. PPP’s information secretary Faisal Mir was also barred from entering in the building initially. Later, he was allowed in. The presence of senior PML-N leaders, including Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, encouraged some party workers to indulge in sloganeering.

Addressing newsmen, the chief minister said Senate elections would strengthen the democratic process.

MNA Hamza Shahbaz accused the PTI of playing a double game. He said that the PTI’s MPAs were reaching out to their PML-N colleagues and asking them to vote for Chan.

Polling ended at 4pm. Reports of unofficial results started coming in at around 5pm.

The successful candidates soon emerged from the assembly building to celebrate their win.

As PML-N workers raised slogans for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, some PPP activists responded by chanting Jiey Bhutto slogans.

The first to claim victory was General (r) Abdul Qayyum. He declared it was for the first time that a democratically-elected government had offered a Senate ticket to a retired general.

“Electoral reforms, defence and foreign policy should be the main areas of focus over the coming days,” he said.

He said parties that stood against horse-trading understood the importance of the 22nd Amendment and electoral reforms.

PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, elected on a technocrats’ seat, said there was a need to rectify flaws in the system.

He said the prime minister had tried to build consensus over the 22nd Amendment bill but failed. Haq said such reforms should be taken forward through consensus amongst political parties.

Nadeem Afzal Chan criticised the PTI for its “deal” with PML-N following which, he said, it had chose to abstain from Senate polls in the Punjab.

Talking to newsmen after unofficial results had come in, Chan thanked the Pakistan Muslim League–Q leadership for their support. PPP saluted the “brave” PML-N lawmakers who had cast their vote in his favour.

“Had the PTI participated in the elections, we would have been able to secure at least one seat,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2015.