Interference in Senate election won’t be tolerated, says Fazl

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Chairman Fazlur Rehman said on Monday that opposition parties would not tolerate interference in the election for the Senate chairman’s office. 

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad where Yusuf Raza Gilani was formally named as opposition’s joint candidate for Senate chairman’s slot, Fazl said that cheap tricks could not block democracy’s way. He said that opposition lawmakers could resign during the long march, which is scheduled to begin on March 26. He said that PDM allies did not want to enter the power corridors from the back door. He said the vote of confidence secured by Prime Minister Imran Khan did not have any value. 

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the opposition wanted to bring to an end the establishment’s role in the national political affairs. He said that all national institutions must work in their limits. He said the opposition would bring to the fore if anybody interfered in the Senate chairman’s election. 

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that senators from her party have started receiving phone calls from unidentified phone numbers. She asked why doesn’t the government demand voting by show of hand in the election for Senate chairman’s office. She said that a large number of lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were in contact with the PML-N.