ECP likely to get assistance from FIA, agencies
AAMIR SAEED
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday hinted at getting assistance from Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and intelligence agencies to probe allegations of horse-trading in Senate elections.
Representatives of different political parties appeared before a five-member bench of the ECP in person or through their counsel to substantiate their claims of horse-trading in the Senate polls that were held on March 3.
Chief Election Commissioner former Justice Sardar Raza Khan said that it is unfortunate that those who sell their votes and those who buy are both members of the Parliament. He made these remarks as a five-member bench of the Commission heard its suo motu notice of reports of horse-trading in the Senate elections.
The chief election commissioner also said that buying and selling of votes is a crime, and sought help of political parties to investigate the matter.
Minister of State for Information and broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb requested the Election Commission to get help from the FIA and intelligence agencies to investigate the horse-trading allegations.
The chief election commissioner said that he would do so, but the political parties should also help the ECP investigate the matter.
During the hearing, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Shahid Gondal said the PTI has constituted a committee to investigate the reports of horse-trading and will submit a report to the Election Commission in this regard, once the inquiry is complete.
The MQM-P submitted a request to the ECP, seeking an inquiry into reports of horse-trading in the Sindh Assembly. The representatives of other party leaders also submitted similar requests and documents to the Election Commission.
The Election Commission had summoned eight parliamentarians who leveled allegations of horse-trading in the elections for assistance in the case. These lawmakers included Chairman PTI Imran Khan, MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar, and State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb.
The next hearing of the case will be held on April 4.
