The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and lawmakers have reiterated their commitment to vote for all the candidates that are supported by the party. The PTI chief has also emphasized on many occasions that he will take every possible step to curb horse-trading in the senate elections.
It is the first time in history of Pakistan that the senate elections are under so much scrutiny; Imran Khan must be applauded for his determination to root out the use of money to get a seat in senate. He went to the extent of saying that he will dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Assembly to purge his party from this menace of horse-trading.
It must be kept in mind that the members of the parliament of every party make their way to the assembly representing their respective parties. The elected members have a moral responsibility to abide by the party rules and policy. If the party has decided to back a certain candidate the members should also vote for them. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz had earlier proposed to bring a 22nd amendment to the constitution that would make the show of hand while voting a compulsion in an effort to curb horse-trading, however they eventually dropped the plan.
However, a contradiction has emerged in Imran’s desire to root out horse-trading; a few days ago the PTI chief claimed that he has been offered a donation of mammoth 150 million to back a certain candidate in the senate elections. Khan avoided naming the said person citing that this particular individual who offered the money is a good person and he won’t expose him. Anyone looking to buy his way into senate cannot be a ‘good person’; Imran has taken a step back by failing to mention the ‘good person’. Imran’s efforts to ensure free and fair elections in Pakistan are noteworthy and will definitely bring a new culture of fairness and credibility.
