Horse-trading video was not shot at Speaker House in Peshawar: Asad Qaiser
Speaker Asad Qaiser distances himself from 'horse-trading' video scandal
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Speaker of National Assembly Asad Qaiser on Saturday clarified that the “horse-trading” video was not shot in the Speaker House Peshawar.
Asad Qaiser, in a tweet, distanced himself from the horse-trading video that allegedly shows PTI lawmakers receiving money to vote against their party candidates in the Senate elections 2018.
The speaker further said that in 2018, PM Imran Khan had informed him about several PTI MPAs selling their votes for money and entire party favored action against the lawmakers who were involved in the controversy.
"Statements like these are only an attempt to deflect from the actual issue," he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the opposition parties will cry foul if upcoming elections of the Senate are not held through open vote as government can secure more seats through secret voting.
Prime Minister, while talking to media persons, said that rate of one seat of upper house of Parliament is between Rs500 million to Rs700 million and asked how is it possible that a person who spend this much money will not want a payback.
The premier further said that timing of video is not important and clarified that he would have used the video as evidence in cases if he had it in his possession earlier.
It is pertinent to mention here that a video of horse-trading during Senate elections in 2018 by some provincial lawmakers has emerged. The lawmakers can be seen counting bundles of notes and putting them inside a bag.
Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry, while exclusively talking to Dunya News has said that selling votes for financial benefits is very shameful and urged Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) to take suo moto notice of the incident.
On the other hand, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill has said that PM Imran Khan has been raising the issue for past 25 years as he is strictly against horse-trading in elections.
It is to be noted here that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had expelled its lawmakers for “selling their votes” in Senate elections. Imran Khan had said that 20 of PTI MPAs had received Rs40 million each for selling their loyalties in the Senate election.
PTI government, in order to conduct Senate elections by open ballot in 2021, has approached the apex court under Article 186.
The top court’s guidance has been sought in the presidential reference in order to amend Section 122 (6) of the Election Act, 2017 without amending the constitution.
