ISLAMABAD: The possible horse-trading in upcoming Senate elections on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) seats has confused the high-ups of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Today has learnt.
A PTI’s member of provincial assembly (MPA) from KP, on condition of anonymity, said that political parties are offering money to their lawmakers in KP for getting votes for the upcoming Senate election. He informed that the party leadership has communicated its concern to six to seven lawmakers in internal party meetings who might go against the party policy.
The party member further stated that “we are devising a strategy to stop this, and if an MPA goes against party policy, then PTI can lose a general seat”. In addition to this, he added, the high-ups of PTI are constantly in touch with their coalition partners as well as other parties to prevent any possible embarrassment.
Interestingly, no party in KP assembly except the PTI has 17 members to elect their candidate without making compromises with other parties. Presently, PTI has 62 seats and need six more votes to win the four general seats.
If PTI wins those six votes, its strength in Senate will reach to 12 members making it the third biggest party in the upper house.
Overall, five parties have nominated 20 members for seven general Senate seats from KP with PTI nominating seven, PML -N four, JUI-F three, PPP two, and ANP and QWP nominating one candidate each for general seats. Moreover, six candidates have filed nomination papers for two technocrat seats and eight submitted their documents for two reserved seats for women.
Under the formula, 17 MPAs will elect one senator from KP.
Central Additional Secretary Information Faisal Javed Khan while talking to Pakistan Today stated that PTI will make sure that no MPA of the party goes against the party policy, and also condemned horse trading.
It is pertinent to mention here that Senate elections would be held on March 3. Presently, the PTI has seven senators in the upper house and one of its senators, Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, will retire in March.
