MQM, PTI back Constitutional amendment for Senate polls

By
AFP
|
MQM, PTI back Constitutional amendment for Senate polls
ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have decided to support the proposed Constitutional amendments to prevent horse-trading in the upcoming Senate elections.

Speaking to media men outside the Prime Minister House here Friday, MQM leader Farooq Sattar said his party has decided to back the Constitutional amendments for Senate elections. He said, “Now the time has come to take practical measures for halting horse-trading.”

PTI leader Arif Alvi said, “It will be clear after the decision of amendments in the constitution that who is serious to stop horse-trading.”

Earlier on Friday Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired an All Parties Conference (APC) over the issue. However, no consensus could be reached on a constitutional amendment to prevent horse-trading in Senate elections, scheduled for March 5.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have opposed any constitutional amendment, saying that all parties should internally sort the issue and have faith amongst each other.

Talking to the media after the APC, former premier and PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf said that his party would take steps internally to prevent horse-trading. He said any amendment should be brought at an appropriate time.