ISLAMABAD, Sep 03 (APP):The Senate on Monday witnessed a heated debate on the general election 2018 with the treasury benches terming the same free and fair, and opposition members demanding an impartial investigation into the allegations of rigging.
PML-N Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi moved an adjournment motion on August 30 regarding alleged rigging in the general election, which was admitted by the acting Chairman Salim Mandviwalla for debate. However, the House could not hold debate on it during the last two sittings. The discussion on the motion started Monday after the deferment of the main agenda, including legislative agenda and private members’ resolutions and motions under Rule 218.
Taking part in the debate, Javed Abbasi called for setting up a parliamentary commission to investigate alleged election rigging. He said PTI Senator Azam Swati at a press conference claimed that the Result Transmission System (RTS) was stopped on the polling day.
He said through the Election Act-2017, the Election Commission of Pakistan was empowered to conduct election in a free, fair and transparent manner. But the ECP had failed to fulfill its responsibility though it was given about Rs 21 billion for holding the election, he alleged.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan in his victory statement had announced that allegations of rigging levelled by the opposition parties would be investigated and he should now take practical steps to that effect.
Javed Abbasi claimed that only 15 per cent Forms-45 of 117 constituencies were signed by the presiding officers while the rest were unsigned.
Senator Hasil Khan Bizenjo also demanded to set up a parliamentary commission for probing rigging allegations. He also alleged that the caretaker government had failed to hold free and fair election.
Senator Usman Kakar asked the Chief Election Commissioner to resign for allegedly not holding free and fair election.
Senator Faisal Javed said Imran Khan was the only political leader, who had demanded investigation into rigging of the 2013 general election. A judicial commission was set up by the Supreme Court on the request of the PTI, he added.
He quoted PTI chief Imran Khan saying in his victory speech that he had no issue if the opposition parties took up the rigging allegation with the Election Commission of Pakistan.
He said though all the local and international observers had termed the election free and fair yet Imran Khan pledged that reservations of the political parties regarding the election would be addressed.
Quratulain Marri alleged that presiding officers had not prepared Forms-45 even after 24 hours of end of the polling.
Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh said his party MQM-P was the first to raise objections over the election results. There was no one to claim responsibility about the failure of Results Transmission System (RTS), he added.
Senator Azam Khan Swati said all the political parties in the parliament had unanimously made the Election-Act 2017. Some Rs 21 billion had been spent on the election, he added.
He called for forensic audit into the failure of the Result Transmission System (RTS). The reason should be unearthed as to why the RTS stopped working on the election day, he said.
Mir Kabeer Ahmed said that law and order during the election campaign was not satisfactory as hundreds of people were killed.
Senator Rehman Malik said non provision of Forms-45 to the polling agents, volume of rejected votes and failure of the RTS pointed towards rigging of the election.
Senator Sherry Rehman said she had a meeting with National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) officials to discuss the failure of RTS. “We wanted a free, fair, transparent and impartial election but unfortunately it did not happen,” she added.
Senator Raza Rabbani alleged that rigging occurred in the election and there was need to strengthen the democracy in the country.
Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should take the responsibility of the election rigging.
Senator Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said all the surveys conducted by various organizations had indicated a tough competition between the PTI and the PML-N. The PTI, he said, had no objection over any investigation into rigging allegations.
Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan alleged that rigging was started with disqualification of PML-N’s Haneef Abbasi four days before the election day.
MQM Parliamentary Leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Khan Saif also demanded to set up a commission to probe the allegations and settle the controversy. His party was also not satisfied with the election process as there had been complaints about pre-poll rigging, he added.
He said election laws should be reviwed and the post-election management should be strengthened.
Senator Tahir Bizenjo, Sardar Azam Musakhal, Mushtaq Ahmed, Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo,
Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi, Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, Dr. Sikandar Mandhro, Muhamamd Akram and Musadik Masood Malik also spoke on the occasion.
Senate witnesses heated debate on general election
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