Senate election live updates: Govt, PDM lock horns for chairman, deputy chairman posts
Amid the controversy of the sale and purchase of votes and allegations between opposition parties and the government, the knife-edge elections for the posts of Senate chairman and deputy chairman will be held today (Friday).
The newly-elected members of the upper house took oath after the session began at 10:00am. The polls for Senate chairman and deputy chairman are being conducted by Senate secretariat official.
PTI’s Sadiq Sanjrani and Mirza Muhammad Afridi and the joint opposition’s Yousaf Raza Gillani and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri will be in a poll fight for the slots of Senate chairman and deputy chairman.
2:55pm — Ahsan Iqbal seeks CCTV footage of Parliament House
PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal has filed an application with the National Assembly secretary to secure a copy of the last 24 hours CCTV footage of the Parliament House.
“Application given to secretary National Assembly to secure a copy of CCTV footage of Parliament House for last 24 hours to find out culprits behind installation of spy cameras in Senate Hall and to ensure security of data,” tweeted Iqbal.
Application given to Secretary National Assembly to secure a copy of CCTV footage of Parliament House for last 24 hours to find out culprits behind installation of spy cameras in Senate Hall and to ensure security of data. pic.twitter.com/mqcwsHH3I2
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) March 12, 2021
2:50pm — PM Imran Khan to watch elections from PM House
Prime Minister Imran Khan will watch the Senate elections from the PM House, officials privy to the development told Geo News.
The sources said that the PM was briefed by the PTI leaders regarding the government’s numbers for the Senate elections.
They added that the PM will leave for Sohawa after the Senate elects its new chairman and deputy chairman.
2:45pm — Senate staff sets up new polling booth
After the last polling booth became controversial, a new one has been set up for the elections of the Senate chairman and his deputy in the upper house of Parliament.
The new polling booth was set up in the presence of the Senate secretary.
The secretary, after setting up the polling booth, said that the polling agents and the candidates can come and review the new booth.
2:42pm — Bilawal calls for Sadiq Sanjrani’s resignation
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has called on incumbent Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to resign from his post as he had compromised the integrity of the upper house.
The PPP chairman, who spoke to the media at the Parliament House, also said that investigations should be held regarding the emergence of the alleged spy cameras.
2:35 pm — Senate security in charge appointed on March 11
With the election of Senate chairman becoming controversial after the emergence of alleged “spy cameras”, it has emerged that the in charge of the senate security was appointed on March 11 — a day before the polls.
A notification obtained by Geo News showed that Wajahat Afzal was appointed the Senate’s sergeant at arms for a year on March 11.
The notification showed that Afzal was appointed without an advertisement under Rule 17 as a grade 18 officer of the Senate Secretariat.
2:25pm — 98 senators to take part in elections
At least 98 senators will take part in the Senate elections being held for the Senate chairman and deputy chairman.
One of the senators that will not be voting in the elections is Ishaq Dar, who has not taken oath of office yet. The other senator that will not skip the voting is Mushtaq Ahmed of the JI as his party had announced that they will be abstaining from the vote.
آر ٹی ایس اور ڈسکہ دھند کے بعد سینیٹ پر ڈاکہ ڈالنے والے آخری جنگ ہار چکے۔ سپریم کورٹ سے منہ کی کھائی، آئینی ترمیم میں ناکام رہے،صدارتی آرڈینینس ردی کا ٹکڑا بن گیا تو خفیہ کیمروں والے مستری لے آئے۔ آئین میں خفیہ ووٹ کا ذکر ہے خفیہ کیمروں کا نہیں! ووٹ چورو شرم کرو اور کرسی چھوڑو!
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 12, 2021
1:59pm — Polling booth will be changed: Senate secretary
The Senate secretary has announced that the polling booth will be changed.
He has called members of the Opposition and government. The polling booth will be changed at 2pm, he said.
1:55pm — Sadiq Sanjrani dismisses Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar’s claims
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Friday dismissed the claims made by PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar that he left the Senate building at 5:30 am today.
Sanjrani, when asked by Geo News regarding the allegation, said laughingly that he left the Senate building at 5:30pm not 5:30am.
1:45pm — Constitution mentions ‘secret voting’ but not ‘secret cameras’, says Maryam Nawaz
Maryam Nawaz Sharif slammed the emergence of “hidden cameras” in the Senate ahead of the elections for the new chairman and his deputy.
The PML-N leader tweeted that the Constitution has mentioned “secret voting” but not “secret cameras”.
“The constitution has mentioned secret voting but not secret cameras. Have some shame vote thieves, leave the seat,” said Maryam.
The PML-N leader said that those leading a robbery in Senate have lost the last “war” after the RTS fiasco and fog in Daska elections.
Maryam said that the government after being humiliated by the Supreme Court, failing in passing constitutional amendment and the presidential ordinance being turned into a piece of paper brought in “camera mechanics”.
