Opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will be challenging Sadiq Sanjrani’s win the Senate Chairman elections at the Islamabad High Court today.
Sanjrani, the government’s candidate for the position, won 48 votes against the PDM’s candidate Yusuf Raza Gillani’s 42 votes. However, 7 votes for Gillani were rejected by the Presiding Officer for incorrect marking of the ballot papers. The opposition alleges that this decision was unfair, and Gillani should have won if the 7 votes were not rejected.
Opposition leaders rejected Sanjrani’s victory, and in a joint press conference after the Senate Chairman election, expressed their disappointment at the decision.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N)’s Raja Pervez Ashraf said that the manner in which Gillani was defeated was shameful, and pointed out the installation of six hidden cameras in the polling booths. He alleged that the government had stolen Gillani’s seat through unfair tactics, and said that Sanjrani should have resigned if he was a believer in democracy.
Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the election “has been stolen right in front of the eyes of the people,” adding that the PDM had clearly defeated the government in the National Assembly and the Senate. He maintained that the decision of the Senate Chairman elections was biased and illegal, and it will be challenged in court.
