Rs500 million to Rs700 million is rate to become senator in Balochistan: PM

RAWALPINDI (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan said that in Balochistan people are being offered Rs500m to Rs700m for a single vote in the Senate elections.

Speaking to the journalists in Kallar Syedan, the prime minister said that the opposition parties will cry foul if upcoming elections of the Senate are not held through open vote as government can secure more seats through secret voting.

"Rate of one seat of upper house of Parliament is between Rs500 million to Rs700 million and now this rate has been reached till Rs800 millions," Imran Khan said. He also asked how is it possible that a person who spend this much money will not want a payback.

"I have also been offered a Senate seat for money. Those who wanted to bribe me approached me through direct and indirect means,” he remarked.

The premier said that the PML-N and PPP had agreed on open balloting in the Charter of Democracy. “I had endorsed PML-N ‘s demand for an open ballot.”

 

He regretted that the selling and purchasing of votes in the polls of upper house is continuing over the last three decades. He said the political parties which remained in power during this period did not make any attempt to stop these corrupt practices as this money also goes to the top leadership. He disclosed that several offers were also made to him in the past for the Senate seat.

Imran Khan recalled that it was he who expelled his twenty MPAs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for their involvement in the horse trading in the previous Senate elections.

To a question, PM Khan said the country's exports have started witnessing growth. He said increase in exports will help strengthen the rupee and check the price hike.

Pakistani team will soon start beating world top teams

When asked about the recent test series win of Pakistan against South Africa, Imran Khan said congratulated the team. He said the country's domestic cricket structure has been fixed and expressed the confidence that Pakistan will soon start beating world top teams.

Earlier, the video showed some former and incumbent KP lawmakers receiving money ahead of the 2018 Senate Election.

Later that day, Former PTI MPA Ubaidullah Mayar accused former KP chief minister Pervez Khattak of fixing the last Senate election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mayar confirmed that he and other party lawmakers received bribes from Senate candidates in the 2018 election of the upper house.