ISLAMABAD: The nomination papers of all four candidates contesting the elections for Chairman and Deputy Chairman Senate, have been approved.
Here are the contenders:
Senate chairman: PTI-backed Sadiq Sanjrani vs PPP’s Yousaf Raza Gillani
Deputy chairman: PTI’s Mirza Mohammad Afridi vs JUI’s Maulana Ghafoor Haideri
A tough and close competition is expected as the winner needs a simple majority of 51. The house comprises 100 members. Both PTI and PDM have claimed that they have the support of 51 senators. The voting will start at 3pm.
At the start of the session, the opposition senators claimed that spy cameras were installed over polling booths and demanded action.
The presiding officer assured them that new polling booths will be set up, and the Senate secretary said that the matter will be investigated.
The PPP senators staged a protest before the session started. They claimed that spy cameras have been installed over polling booths.
“There is no provision in the rules for putting cameras at the polling stations,” Senator Raza Rabbani remarked. It is against the Constitution, it is against Article 226, it is against the reference that you moved in the Supreme Court which held that balloting will be closed, he added.
Syed Muzafar Hussain Shah, who is presiding over the special session, assured the opposition senators that “polling booths will be constructed afresh to the satisfaction of the opposition and government”. He asked the senators to take their seats, adding that Rule 9 says that no other business shall be transacted on the day of special sittings. Oath will be administered to new members and the election for chairman and deputy chairman will be held.
Here’s what different politicians, senators, MNAs have said about the spy camera accusations:
Yousaf Raza Gillani: We have the majority but they have more tactics. The whole spy camera controversy is embarrassing for the entire nation. This has brought international humiliation to the country.
Maryam Nawaz: The Constitution mentions secret votes and not secret cameras. Shame on the government for stealing votes. Every time these people try to find new ways to steal votes, they are caught red-handed. The situation has become so bad that they resorted to spying on their own members. This is historical humiliation.
Musadiq Malik: The Election Commission should take notice of this. People responsible for this should be disqualified as they are neither amin nor sadiq.
Maulana Ghafoor Haideri: Those who installed spy cameras should be ashamed. He said that he is confident that these tactics will not decrease his chances of winning as the opposition has a clear majority in the Senate.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi: The government should try to defeat the opposition fair and square rather than engaging in different tactics. They can only defeat us through the use of cameras.
Shibli Faraz: The opposition’s sinister plan of installing cameras in polling booths has been exposed. They are using all “criminal tactics” because they know they don’t have the support of the majority. This is why the PDM was against open balloting.
Faisal Javed: The opposition senators think of themselves as James Bond 007. How did they know where spy cameras have been installed? They directly went to the polling booths and this shows that they knew something we didn’t.
Imran Ismail: The matter should be investigated. This was nothing but drama. Look at the technology now. Who uses such spy cameras anymore?
Read more: Gillani claims victory in Senate chairman election
