Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including former prime minister Imran Khan, on Wednesday levelled accusations of political horse-trading against the coalition government amidst tomorrow’s election of the Punjab chief minister.
PTI Chairman Imran took to Twitter to allege that horse-trading was being observed in Sindh House Islamabad. He alleged that Rs500 million had been offered to each member of the assembly supporting PTI to switch their loyalties. “Today Lahore is seeing a repeat of the Sindh House horse-trading that happened in Islamabad with up to Rs50 crores [Rs500 million] being offered to buy MPAs,” former prime minister tweeted.
He accused Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari of being the mastermind of this horse-trading, saying that the former president wanted to benefit from the coalition government.
Imran said such deals were not only an attack on democracy but also on the moral values of Pakistani society. He also criticised the Supreme Court, saying that such a practice could have been prevented had it taken action and imposed lifetime ban on those switching loyalties.
PTI leader Chaudhry Fawad Hussain also held a press conference in Islamabad and accused the coalition government of offering money to lawmakers to vote for Hamza Shehbaz.
He said that three members of his party would submit affidavits in the Supreme Court regarding how Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders offered them money. “These three MPAs were offered money, while Atta Tarar offered help,” he claimed.
He said Zardari was spending money of the people of Sindh. The Supreme Court should investigate the matter as “we do not expect anything good from the Election Commission of Pakistan”, he said.
It may be mentioned here that both the PML-N and the PTI are accusing each other of buying the loyalties of MPAs by using hefty amounts. PTI lawmaker Ch Masood Ahmad left the country just days before the crucial election. It is being claimed by the PTI that he changed his loyalty after getting Rs250 million from Zardari. A resolution was also passed in the session of the Punjab Assembly chaired by Parvez Elahi against buying the loyalties of lawmakers. Deputy Opposition Leader Mian Aslam Iqbal moved the resolution. According to the resolution, the House condemned the efforts of sabotaging the election of the Punjab CM. “Federal interior minister and home minister Punjab are pressurising our MPAs through police and Intelligence Bureau,” the resolution said. “Asif Ali Zardari is in Lahore for changing the loyalties of our MPAs through his wealth,” it added.
Talking to Minute Mirror, Mian Aslam Iqbal confirmed that six to seven MPAs were being approached for changing their loyalties. He said that the lawmakers were being pressurised to abstain from voting on July 22. “It is our mandate and we should be allowed to form government in Punjab,” he said, adding that the people had shown their anger by casting their votes against the PML-N on July 17 and it should be accepted by all.
PTI MPAs Shahabuddin, Amir Anayat and Ghazanfar Abbas said that they had been approached by Home Minister Atta Tarar and he offered them Rs250 million to change their loyalties.
It is worth mentioning here that both the parties have booked hotels for their MPAs in Lahore to save them from any big offer. The PML-N MPAs are residing at Hotel Swiss, while the PTI MPAs are being accommodated at another local hotel. On Wednesday, lawmakers belonging to the PTI and the PML-Q reached Punjab Assembly on special buses, just like how the PML-N lawmakers used to come earlier.
‘PTI the buyer’
Later, addressing a press conference, Atta Tarar said that the PTI was making hue and cry just a day before the election of the Punjab CM. He said that he was ready to say it on oath that he didn’t give any amount to Ch Masood of the PTI. He added that Ch Masood had already resigned from his MPA seat, and more resignations could also come soon. Tarar also revealed that the PML-N MPAs were being approached by the PTI to buy their loyalties. “[One of] our women [lawmakers] from Faisalabad was approached in this regard but she refused. Another PML-N MPA, Maulana Ilyas Chinioti, said that he was offered Rs100 million by the PTI but he refused.”
Replying to a question, Tarar said he would disclose before the court how Parvez Elahi and Moonis Elahi gave hefty amounts to PML-N lawmakers.
Shujaat backs Elahi
Meanwhile, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, in a policy statement issued by the PML-Q, said that Parvez Elahi was the party’s candidate for the slot of the chief minister, and those who had the mandate had the right to rule.
In response to reports that Zardari had asked Shujaat to write a letter instructing PML-Q lawmakers not to vote for Elahi, Shujaat said there was “no question” of issuing a letter. “I do not need to clarify. The solution to the country’s problems lies in not getting involved in cycles of counting [votes],” he said, referring to the CM’s election.
Shujaat said the solution to the country’s problems was to either let the incumbent government rule for a year or more till the general election or to hold fresh election immediately.
MQM-P meeting
Also, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders met Chaudhry Shujaat at his residence in which they discussed the political situation and scenario after the Punjab by-polls and other matters.
The MQM-P delegation was led by its convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. The meeting was also attended by Waseem Akhtar, Tariq Bashir Cheema and Salik Hussain.
The leaders agreed to pursue a joint strategy for the development and prosperity of the country. Dr. Siddiqui said that the MQM-P and the PML-Q had always made decisions after holding consultations.
