KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has urged the written a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), urging it to investigate the ‘mysterious behaviour’ of opposition MPAs residing in hotels in Karachi.
The letter dated March 2, written by PPP’s Central Election Cell incharge Taj Haider, stated that several media reports suggested that PTI booked 30 rooms at a local hotel where 15 provincial lawmakers were currently residing.
“Likewise, MQM has booked rooms at the Regent Plaza for their MPAs. This unusual behaviour of the MPAs of PTI and MQM residing in hotels despite having accommodation in Karachi raises concerns,” the letter further stated.
The PPP leader called on the ECP to ensure that the MPAs were not “bribed or under any duress” that would stop them from casting votes according to their choice in the Senate elections. “The ECP is also requested to investigate who is bearing the lodging expenses,” the letter added.
Meanwhile, polling for 37 seats of the Senate is underway under the supervision of the Election Commission of Pakistan as a total of 78 candidates contest from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad.
Last week, Haider had filed a complaint with the ECP against Sindh Governor Imran Ismail over alleged violation of the code of conduct for the Senate polls. The letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner stated that a strategy for the success of PTI candidates was evolved at the meeting held at Sindh Governor’s House.
