Imran lauds CM Khattak for 'stopping horse-trading in KP'

By
AFP
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Imran lauds CM Khattak for 'stopping horse-trading in KP'
PESHAWAR: Felicitating lawmakers belonging to his party on winning six Senate seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday said the credit for stopping attempts of horse-trading in the province goes to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.

Speaking at a press conference flanked by party leaders including CM Khattak, he said the PTI members were offered bribes worth millions of rupees and deserve a pat on the back for their courage and honesty.

“I am soon going to offer our MPAs treats for their honesty,” said the content-looking party chief.

Khan said that the prevailing electoral procedure for Senate polls make the whole exercise suspicious, adding that senate seats are bought by influential.

He said that the party did not offer the senate ticket to anyone from outside the province.

“It’s not possible that MPAs take bribes and the party leaders don’t,” said the PTI chairman, alleging that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) bought at least four votes in the KP senate elections.

“I need to know how Khanzada Khan got elected as a senator and Nadeem Afzal Chan bagged excessive votes?” he questioned.

The PTI chief praised the media for raising voice against horse-trading in the Senate elections. He vowed to launch a campaign for direct balloting for the Senate polls in the future.

He vowed not to vote for the candidates of PPP and PML-N for the post of Senate Chairman.

Questioning timing of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s tour to Saudi Arabia, he said that the PM was not interested in democracy, adding that Sharif would not be able to get anything out of this trip.

Reiterating allegations of rigging in the 2013 general elections, Imran khan said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP were resisting change as the existing corrupt system suits them well.

The PTI chief, on the occasion, threatened to launch street protests against the alleged rigging again, given his party was not provided justice by courts of law.

He said that he would soon meet Nadra chairman to unveil ‘facts’ about rigging in NA-122 Lahore constituency.

“We have such a street power that can paralyze the government,” warned the cricketer-turned-politician.

Commenting over his earlier statements regarding bribe-offer for a senate seat, he said the person was from outside the KP and he thought bribing was the only way to get to the power corridors.