PM forms three-member committee to probe ‘horse-trading video’

According to details, the committee comprising Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari and Adviser to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar has been tasked to ascertain facts against those involved in horse-trading.

The committee will forward its recommendations to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Earlier on February 09, a leaked video emerged showing massive rigging and horse trading in the 2018 Senate Elections. The video showed how fidelity of 20 lawmakers of the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was changed after horse-trading during Senate elections in 2018.

The lawmakers had been ousted from the political party after holding a detailed investigation.

According to the report, MPAs participated in the 2018 Senate elections by taking Rs38 million. Whereas six PTI MPAs in Peshawar sold their loyalties by taking Rs40 Million for each vote in the 2018 Senate Elections.

It is worth mentioning here that Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier said that the cases against MPAs involved in corruption would be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). PM Imran Khan in 2018 tweeted:

Government, in order to conduct Senate elections 2021 by open ballot has approached the apex court under Article 186 of the constitution of Pakistan. Supreme 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.