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Friday, April 26, 2024  
17 Shawwal 1445  

Money is used in the polls for the upper house since last 40 years, says PM Imran

PM Imran Khan questioned over the “performance and responsibility” of the country’s top...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan is addressing the nation after yesterday's shock defeat of Hafeez Shaikh against Yousuf Raza Gillani in the Senate elections.

PM Imran Khan said that he wishes to discuss what happened yesterday.

"It is important to talk about it and explain it, because the problems in our country can be understood through the kind of election that happened," the premier said at the start of his address.

The Prime Minister said he will take vote of confidence from National Assembly on Saturday in open ballot, which should be the standard practice. He said he is not afraid of losing power as he has no monetary interests. He said he bears all his personal expenses himself and is not A burden on national exchequer like previous rulers.

The Prime Minister reiterated its resolve to continue struggle for the supremacy of law and justice irrespective of remaining in power or sitting on the opposition benches.

He said that the country's leadership comes from within the members of parliament "and here you have people becoming Senators after bribing others".

"What sort of democracy is this? So I began a campaign for open balloting."

He said when the PTI took part in the Senate elections six years ago, he realised that "money is used" in the polls for the upper house. This was not a new phenomenon, he said, but had been going on 30-40 years.

Raising questions over the “performance and responsibility” of the country’s top election organising authority, PM Imran said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had a major role to play during the Senate polls.

"Your [ECP] major responsibility was transparency [during Senate polls] but why did you ask for a close ballot," he questioned.

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Senate polls

imran khan

Senate election

Yousuf Raza Gilani

Hafeez Shaikh

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