Opposition lawmakers’ protests spy cameras, microphones in Senate polling booths

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The Opposition lawmakers on Friday staged a protest in the Senate after they discovered spy cameras installed in the polling booths.

The Opposition Senators, who were about to elect the chairman and deputy chairman, stood up on their seats in the House just before the start of the session and voiced their concerns. 

PPP’s Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and PML-N’s Musaddiq Malik spotted the cameras in the polling booths right over the tables where the Senators have to stamp their votes during elections of chairman and deputy chairman. Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar took a picture of the spy camera and posted it on Twitter.

He said he and Mr Musaddiq themselves saw the secret camera. Senior PPP leader Sherry Rehman said a spy camera over the polling booth and a microphone have been found in the polling booth erected for Senate elections.

In a tweet, Sherry Rehman said “This is a shocking criminal violation of the elections laws of Pakistan.” The lawmakers from the Opposition and government sides also exchanged harsh words over the issue. PPP’s Raza Rabbani was furious over the discovery of the spy cameras.

“Under what law you have installed these cameras. It violates Supreme Court’s orders.” The Opposition’s lawmakers raised the slogans of ‘shame shame’ against the government.

In reaction, Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz said the government has exposed another attempt by the opposition to do rigging.

In the meanwhile, Presiding Officer Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, appointed by the President of Pakistan to preside over the Senate session, administered the oath to the 48 newly-elected senators.

Later, the presiding officer ordered the Senate staff to erect new polling booths as the voting to elect new Senate Chairman and his deoputy will take place at 3:00pm.