Islamabad: Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have given their nod to hold the senate elections through a show of hands.
Punjab and KP governments have submitted their reply in the presidential reference case which is being heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
In its reply, the Kp government said that it is mandatory to do legislation for holding senate elections through open ballot adding that transparent elections are a basis of democracy. It further said that casting a vote against someone’s own party is disloyalty. In the past, a secret ballot was used against the spirit of the elections and corruption allegations were hurled at the senate elections.
The KP insisted the SC declare that the parliament and the government can amend the election act 2017.
Advocate General Punjab in his response to the SC supporting the presidential reference said that assembly members cast their votes on personal gains against the party discipline and their such action is a violation of the democracy rules.
Assembly members are elected thorough public votes and the elected representatives elect the senators.
Punjab government opined that the elected representatives have no reason to reject the secret ballot while those opposing the party policy can tender resignations adding that resignation is a much better option than selling off the votes.
It said that the procedure of the senate election is different from other elections. While presidential, Chairman senate, Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and speaker elections are held under the constitution. There is no procedure that exists in the constitution for the senate elections and it is held under the election act.
