No-confidence motion: ECP has 'nothing to do with floor-crossing, horse-trading' 

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has made it clear that the ‘body has nothing to do with the election of premier, floor-crossing, horse-trading and no-confidence motion’, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Thursday.

“The National Assembly speaker acts as the presiding officer in PM election and a no-confidence motion,” the ECP stated. The commission will act in accordance with the constitution and the law if the National Assembly speaker sends a declaration in case of floor-crossing and horse-trading.

However, the ECP said the government can empower the ECP by bringing amendments to the laws.

The statement comes a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan called for an ECP action against alleged horse-trading in Sindh. The premier raised the demand for ECP notice of the illegal activity in his public address in Swat, although the commission barred him from doing so.

Also, Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Ch Fawad Hussain said yesterday that the commission should issue notice to the PML-N after its leader Javed Latif confessed to indulging in horse-trading to make the no-confidence motion a success. He said the election commission should seek clarification from the PML-N.