Top leaders’ reactions after Senate polls

PDM's Yousuf Raza Gilani has pulled off a major upset, emerging victorious against PTI's Hafeez Shaikh on the Islamabad general seat.

Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz

Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz has termed the result of the Senate Islamabad seat as a matter of buying and selling.

He said that it is a war of two ideologies, one is a bargain of conscience that PDM is doing and the other is to eradicate corruption, which is obviously the ideology and goal of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Talking to media, Shibli Faraz said that Imran Khan is a leader who does not come under any pressure because his faith is strong and the people are with him.

He said that those who came to power by force of money have always paralysed the institutions and PDM has opened the treasuries of looted goods. Referring to the alleged leaked video of Ali Haider Gilani, he said that today's Senate decision confirms the video.

Shibli Faraz said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has been expressing concerns over the Senate elections and his fear proved to be true.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted and reiterated his mother Benazir Bhutto's famous saying that 'democracy is the best revenge'. At the end of the tweet, he also chanted the slogan 'Jay Bhutto'.

Democracy is the best revenge. Jeya Bhutto!

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) March 3, 2021

Talking to media along Yousuf Raza Gilani, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto referring to the victory of PDM candidate on Senate Islamabad said that the failed policy of Prime Minister Imran Khan has been rejected in the National Assembly.

Bilawal Bhutto said that defeating Imran Khan in the National Assembly was a great achievement and now Yousuf Raza Gilani would also be elected chairman of the Senate.

Calling the future of PDM and democracy bright, he said that in terms of members of the National Assembly, PDM has won and the government has lost the parliament, which has enhanced the prestige of the parliament. He further said that the strategy of PDM would be clarified through mutual consultation.

Bilawal Bhutto said that he had also challenged and defeated the government in the by-elections.

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz

On the other hand, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz in series of tweets expressed her happiness.

In the first tweet, Maryam Nawaz wrote, "Congratulations to Yousuf Raza Gilani, congratulations to PDM, praise and congratulations to PML-N members of the National Assembly."

اللّہ تعالی کا شکر جس نے PDM کو فتح دی۔
جعلی مینڈیٹ عوام کے نمائندوں نے واپس چھین لیا-اپنے ہی لوگوں نے دباؤ کے باوجود آٹا چور،چینی چور،بجلی چور،ووٹ چور عوام کے مجرم عمران خان کو ووٹ دینے سے انکار کر دیا۔تمھارے پاس اب وزیر اعظم ہاؤس پر قابض رہنے کا کوئی جواز نہیں۔ووٹ چور کرسی چھوڑ

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 3, 2021

She further wrote, “I abide by Nawaz Sharif's decision and statement and refuse to bow down and sell. Well done Muslim League N! The future is yours, God willing.

2018 کی ووٹ چوری کا بدلہ ڈسکہ کے عوام نے لے لیا اور چیرمین سینٹ کا الیکشن چھینے جانے کا بدلہ آج عوامی نمائندوں نے لے لیا۔ سب سے اہم بات یہ ہے کہ عوام اور انکے نمائندوں نے ڈرنے سے انکار کر دیا۔ جعل سازی اب نہیں چل سکتی۔ #ووٹ_چور_کرسی_چھوڑ

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 3, 2021

In another tweet, Maryam Nawaz wrote, "The people of Daska took revenge for the theft of votes in 2018 and today the people's representatives took revenge for snatching the chairman of the Senate election. The most important thing is that the people and their representatives refused to be intimidated, counterfeiting can no longer work.”

Yousuf Raza Gilani

Former Prime Minister and winner of Islamabad Senate seat, Yousuf Raza Gilani while talking to media thanked all the leadership of PDM including Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, Shahbaz Sharif and Akhtar Mengal.

He said that his victory today was in fact the victory of democracy. "The parties in the PDM have won all the by-elections before and then participated in the Senate elections, of which the Islamabad general seat was the most important and we won here as well."

The former prime minister said that Nawaz Sharif had called and congratulated him.