MIANWALI: Prime Minister Imran Khan has slammed the opposition parties for opposing Senate polls through an open ballot, saying that they were planning to buy PTI lawmakers to get more of its candidates elected to Senate.
“The opposition, under the banner of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), has set up a market to buy politicians and rates have been fixed,” he said, while addressing a ceremony for the launch of a tree plantation campaign near the Ghazi Barotha dam.
“This has gone on for 30 years; not all politicians get sold but many do,” he said, adding that the premier said the opposition’s demand that the Senate election is held through secret ballot reflected the destroyed morals of a nation.
The prime minister maintained that the opposition changed its tactic after facing multiple setbacks, including the Lahore rally and attempts to blackmail the government over the FATF legislation.
“First their so-called power show in Lahore flopped, then they failed to blackmail us over FATF legislation, now they are planning to somehow bring more of their senators by through buying our people,” the premier added.
He further said, “In a respectable society, no one would dare to support secret ballot when it is a known fact that bribes are given in the Senate elections. A senator who is elected after spending millions of rupees, will they come to serve the people? He will come to make money.”
Continuing his criticism, the premier reiterated that the people of Pakistan are up against “the dacoits and mafias” and the nation stands at a critical crossroads. “This is a decisive moment for the nation. Masses are on one side, while these thieves and dacoits are on the other. Insha Allah Pakistan will emerge victorious,” he added.
