ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have alleged that their senators were receiving phone calls from “representatives of the state” to vote for the candidates of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Senate top slot polls.
“Once again, an attempt is being made today to make the election of the Senate chairman controversial,” former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while addressing a press conference in Islamabad today (Thursday).
Khaqan said, “I want to believe DG ISPR, when he says the army has nothing to do with politics, but our senators have been complaining that they are receiving phone calls.” He said the opposition does not want to blame anyone but senators should be allowed to vote for the candidate of their choice.
“All of Pakistan knows whatever has happened in the new election and who gave and received Rs700 million,” he said, adding, “It’s unfortunate that the country’s prime minister first gives the ticket against Rs700 million and then rescinds it due to pressure from his own party.”
Speaking on the occasion, PML-N Senator Hafiz Abdul Kareem claimed that he received multiple calls on Whatsapp from “unknown callers”. The Senator said he had received phone calls on March 6 and 7, wherein he was told to support the PTI government’s candidate.
“The first call came on my WhatsApp on March 6, then on March 7. On March 9, I got a call at 12:06pm,” Kareem noted. “I spoke on the last call I received wherein I was told to support the government’s candidate and not Gillani,” he added.
The stage is set for the contest on the Senate chairman’s slot on March 12 (tomorrow) between incumbent Sadiq Sanjrani, who has been nominated by Prime Minister Imran Khan as the ruling party’s candidate and Yousaf Raza Gilani, the joint candidate of opposition parties – PDM.
