ISLAMABAD: PMLN Central and Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi says there is no justification for holding an open-ballot at the upcoming Senate Elections after the Supreme Court verdict.
Talking to media outside the Election Commission’s Office, Abbasi said the Supreme Court clearly stated that the Senate Polls be held in strict accordance with the constitution of Pakistan. He maintained that unless the parliament ammends the constitution with consensus, the election cannot be held with an open vote. Which is sent in its current format, the constitution does not give any room for such a practice.
He said there should be no doubt that nobody other than the parliament had the authority to create, annul, or ammend the constitution. It is a parliamentary convention that all parties sit together to mull over any such proposals and make a decision with a broad based consensus, in favor, against or an altered proposition. Any law brought into force without such a consensus would be purely partisan and would not be sustainable as it would be annulled by the next government, he said.
The former Prime Minister, flanked by Khurram Dastgir Khan, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Saad Rafiq, said that the PMLN delegation met the Chief Election Commissioner and presented their stance over this latest development after the Top Court’s decision. He said the Chief Election Commissioner assured PMLN that it would hold a thorough consultation over the matter today before taking any decision.
Abbasi said that secrecy of the ballot is among the key characteristics of the sanctity of the vote world over. He said nobody has the authority to know the identity of the voters. He went on to say that it needs to be established why would anyone want to violate that secrecy and tow what ends.
The PMLN Central Leader rejected all allegations of buying or selling Senate votes. He dared PTI government to take action against all those who have clear and plausible evidence against them in this regard.
Abbasi also criticised President Arif Alvi for blindly following party policy while forwarding ordinances and other legislative recommendations by the government. He said President Alvi represents the state not a political party which is why he should take off the party hat, read the proposals and decide in the best interests of the country. He pointed out that President Alvi had now twice recommended highly controversial proposals which did not serve the constitution or the state well.
