ISLAMABAD: In the Senate, as lawmakers from Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam–Fazl (JUI-F) appeared to advocate for the last-minute postponement of general elections, a PML-N senator, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, surprised many by asserting that the mass rejection of nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidates was detrimental to democracy.
Senator Sayed emphasized that weakening political parties would undermine the federation and urged against repeating mistakes from past elections, specifically referring to the manipulated 2018 elections influenced by intelligence and security agencies.
Sayed criticized the practice of enforced disappearances, stating that it was unacceptable, emphasizing the importance of human rights and democracy ingrained in the Pakistani DNA.
He stressed the need for the rule of law to prevail, suggesting that those accused of crimes should be charged, brought before a court of law, and tried accordingly.
Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri of JUI-F highlighted the necessity of peace as a prerequisite for elections and expressed concern about the deteriorating law and order situation, citing a recent armed attack on Maulana Fazalur Rahman’s convoy in D.I. Khan.
He mentioned that his party would participate in the elections if institutions, including the court, ensured the polls on Feb 8.
Senator Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party acknowledged the reality of enforced disappearances in Balochistan and urged for a permanent solution rather than creating a counter-narrative against concerned voices.
Other senators from different parties raised concerns about security issues and potential attempts to manipulate elections.
In a separate development, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution, initially seeking a 10-year disqualification from public office for those engaged in negative and malicious propaganda against the armed forces.
The resolution, presented by PPP Senator Bahramanad Khan Tangi, expressed deep concern over such propaganda on social media platforms and recommended severe punishment in accordance with the law. However, Tangi later amended the resolution to remove the demand for a decade-long disqualification.
The resolution acknowledged the sacrifices of the armed forces in the war against terror and emphasized their importance for the defense of the country.
