ECP asks PTI MPA to submit evidence of horse-trading in Senate elections

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday asked PTI MPA Abdul Salam to submit evidence he was approached to sell his vote in the recent Senate elections for money.

In response, the PTI MPA had said that he was in possession of the evidence and would present it to the ECP.

“I have a record of the WhatsApp chat, and will provide evidence to the Election Commission,” he maintained.

The government, in the lead up to the polls, accused the Opposition of being involved in illegal practice by using money to gain votes, while the Opposition blamed the ruling PTI for raising the open ballot issue because it is not sure of its lawmakers’ loyalties.

The blame-game gained intensity when a video of Ali Haider Gilani, son of Pakistan Democratic Movement’s Senate candidate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, emerged in which he was allegedly telling the PTI MPAs how to discard votes.

The PPP leader admitted that he was in contact with the PTI members who had approached him to seek help.

Another audio of Sindh Minister Nasir Hussain Shah was widely shared on social media in which he was allegedly talking to PTI MPAs regarding the Senate election. The minister, however, has denied he ever talked to them and referred the matter to Ali Gilani.