ISLAMABAD: Ahead of the elections for the Chairman Senate and deputy chairman, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar claimed to have recovered ‘spy cameras’ installed in the polling booth.
In his tweet, Khokhar stated he and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Musadik Malik had found ‘spy cameras’ right over the polling booth.
Presiding Officer Senator Sayed Muzafar Hussain Shah ordered to electoral staff to make a new polling booth agreed upon by the government and the opposition members.
Talking to the media outside the parliament, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar asked how the security of was breached. He added that responsibility lies with its current chairman, secretary and the head of security.
“Who allowed this to happen? There was a complete plan to steal this election. We would hold consultations as to who should investigate this breach of the secrecy of election.” he said, adding that the opposition will decide whether the Senate’s committee should investigate the matter or the police.
Former Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani protested and said there is no provision to install cameras in the polling booth. PPP’s Senator Shazia Atta Mari said that cameras were found from the Senate hall where the votes were supposed to be cast. She said that PDM members have been informed about the situation.
The opposition blamed that Secretary Senate saying he was responsible for ensuring transparency during the elections. The opposition showed immense angry and even brought down the polling booth.
Myself and Dr Musadik found spy cameras right over the polling booth!!!! pic.twitter.com/aqRGFRYFbq
— Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar (@Mustafa_PPP) March 12, 2021
In his Twitter account, Malik said: “What a freaking joke. The Senate polling booth has secret /hidden cameras installed. SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY.” He also claimed to have found another “hidden device” in the polling booth.
Meanwhile, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry responded to Khokhar’s tweet, stating that it looked “more like a CCTV cable” and that “spy cameras are far more sophisticated”. He said the Senate secretary should look into this claim,
In another tweet, he shared an “example” of a spy camera. “The camera can be fitted in the head of a nail. The detection of such cameras is impossible. In all likelihood, the CCTV camera cable has been misunderstood as a spy camera,” he added.
This is one example of Spy Camera the camera can be fitted in a head of nail even,detection of such cameras is impossible, in all likelihood CCTV Camera cable is misunderstood as spy camera pic.twitter.com/KPu8a2RCpA
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 12, 2021
In response, Information Minister Shibli Faraz accused the opposition of getting the ‘spy camera’s installed to sabotage the elections. Speaking at a press conference, he vowed to investigate the incident and “expose” the opposition.
He said many Senate officers were appointed during the tenure of the opposition parties. “They have been doing this for a long time; this is evident from the video of Ali Gilani teaching MNAs how to waste votes,” he said.
He said that the PTI’s stance has always been clear and is in front of the people. “We have always wanted corruption to be removed and open voting to come into play.”
He maintained that a new polling booth should be set up, adding that the opposition had conspired to install the cameras. The minister stated that if the government wished to make such moves, it would have done so during the Senate polls.
Shortly after his press conference, the minister reiterated that the opposition’s “sinister” plan had been exposed. He claimed that they used “criminal tactics” to sway the Senate polls in their favour. “That’s why the PDM opposed open ballot. The era of loot and plunder taking its last breath,” he said.
Opposition’s sinister plan of cameras in polling booth exposed. The tactics used in senate elections in NA by opposition where they converted majority into minority using all criminal tactics. That’s why PDM opposed open ballot .Era of loot & plunder taking last breath.
— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) March 12, 2021
