Senate Election would be a test for the assembly members, the federation and the ECP: Siraj ul Haq

Lahore: Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Sirajul Haq, has said that the Election Commission was responsible for holding transparent elections and it must evolve a clear cut strategy to achieve the goal.

Ameer Jamaat -e-Islami said that the Senate Election fixed for March 5 would be a test for the assembly members, the federation as well as the Election Commission. He said that certain people who had doubts in regard to the past elections were also moving around the residences of the candidates, with brief cases stuffed with currency notes.  He said that during a meeting with the Opposition parties, it had been decided that the role of wealth in the senate election should be stopped.

He said that as the Senate election was drawing closer, the activities of the traders and capitalists were increasing. He said it was Election Commission’s responsibility to check all those who wanted to undermine the sanctity of the Upper house trough their riches. Such elements should not be allowed to participate in the election.  He said that the intentions of some people were not good as they considered the assembly members as market commodity.

Sirajul Haq said that consultations were going on with all political parties and it was hoped that they would also try to prevent the entry of those who meant trading and not politics. He said that votes were sold and purchased in secret ballot. He said the Senate election was a Test for the assembly members and it was to be seen how many of them proved as priceless whereas some were bent upon returning to the Upper House on the power of their wealth.

He said that effective steps should be taken to sop horse trading. In this respect, he said, the political parties should not nominate any individual who did not fulfill the conditions laid down under  articles 62 and 63 of the constitution.

He appealed to the democratic loving political parties to stand like a rock against any attempt to defame democracy because this would be a catastrophe.