ISLAMABAD; A high level meeting chaired by prime minister, Imran Khan, here on Thursday was informed by an official of a federal agency that Sindh government used Rs 4 billion from public exchequer for horsetrading in senate elections.
The meeting was also informed by the official that Sindh government withdrew Rs 4 billion just a few days ahead of senate elections and it was used for horsetrading in the contest of the upper house..
Reliable sources confided to NEWSMAN that the prime minister took notice of the report of the agency relating to use of public money for horsetrading in senate elections and ordered a thorough probe into it before referring the matter to the Election Commission of Pakistan to seek win of Yousaf Raza Gilani null and void.
The senate elections which were held on March 3, 2021 had witnessed a major upset when Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate former prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, had defeated Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the government candidate with a margin of 5 votes.
Yousaf Raza Gilani had won the contest of Islamabad general seat in senate polls by bagging 169 votes as compared to 164 votes secured by Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.
The prime minister who is in shock over unexpected win of Mr Gilani in senate ekections immediately ordered the official of another investigation agency who was among the participants to probe the report of withdrawal of Rs 4 billion from accounts of different provincial departments of Sindh government ahead of senate elections.
The senior officials of more than one agencies had attended Thursday's meeting. A number of political aides to prime minister and senior officials of different departments also attended the meetimg.
"Furious PM ordered investigation into the reports of withdrawal of Rs 4 billion from Sindh public exchequer ahead of senate polls and mode of utilisation of these funds", a participant of the meeting told NEWSMAN on the condition of anonymity.
The prime minister and his cabinet members are convinced that the opposition used all unlawful means like use of money to secure win of Yousaf Raza Gilani in senate elections
The report of the federal agency of use of public money also seconded prime minister Imran Khan and his team's arguments of alleged horsetrading in senate elections of March 3, 2021.
According to the official, Imran Khan told the meeting that he was convinced that the opposition had indulged in horsetrading in senate elections and as a part of his party's basic principle he was determined to go after all the characters who were involved in horsetrading in senate elections.
The prime minister also raised question on the credibility of the Election Commission and said the government was considering to take the matter of the use of money by the opposition n the senate polls with the Supreme Court.
The prime minister also told the meeting that he was going to take vote of confidence on March 6, 2021.
Meanwhile, speaker , Asad Qaiser, has summoned the session of the national assembly for March 6, 2021 and Its one point agenda is seeking vote of confidence by the prime minister.