PESHAWAR, April 5: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League was not involved in horse-trading in the Senate elections and it owed its success to President Pervez Musharraf’s agenda and the good reputation of the PML candidates.

This was stated by provincial president of the PML Amir Muqam while talking to reporters at a luncheon hosted by additional secretary-general of the PML Malik Riaz for newly-elected Senator Salim Saifullah Khan.

He accused Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) of being involved in horse-trading and said that giving MMA tickets to people like Dr Shaheena Jamil, Azam Swati and Talha Mehmood was ample proof of its wrong-doings, adding that none of these candidates had affiliation with any of the MMA parties.

Commenting on JUI’s sacking of four of its MPAs for their alleged involvement in horse-trading that triggered a tussle between the NWFP governor and the chief minister, Mr Muqam said they were the weaker component of the alliance and had been made scapegoats.

He said that the JUI had taken a calculated risk by sacking only those MPAs whose seats could easily be retained. The minister said: “ I challenge them to stage a comeback after unseating four or five of their parliamentarians elected on general seats”.

Earlier, Senator Salim Saifullah Khan said the PML did not want to topple the MMA government because it wanted the masses to see the real face of the so-called religious alliance.

He said that the alliance had spent all their energies and government resources on exercises in futility.

“I humbly request the MMA to divert their attention towards the betterment of the province,” he said.

He also expressed dissatisfaction over the current law and order situation in the province.