ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has formed a committee to investigate horse-trading during Senate elections in 2018 after a video of lawmakers taking bribe surfaced.

A three-member committee, comprising Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari and Shahzad Akbar, will conduct a thorough probe against vote trading by some members of provincial assembly (MPAs). The committee is to ascertain the facts against those involved and will forward its recommendations to Prime Minister.

It is pertinent to mention here that a video of horse-trading during Senate elections in 2018 by some provincial lawmakers has emerged who can be seen counting bundles of notes and putting them inside a bag. Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that selling votes for financial benefits is very shameful and demanded action against those Senators who payed lawmakers to get elected.

PTI government, in order to conduct Senate elections by open ballot in 2021, has approached the apex court under Article 186. The top court’s guidance has been sought in the presidential reference in order to amend Section 122 (6) of the Election Act, 2017 without amending the constitution. NNI