ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday questioned the eligibility of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to become a senator.

Faisal Javed of the PTI, while using the opportunity of speaking on International Women’s Day in the Senate, criticised the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement for nominating Mr Gilani as its candidate for the office of Senate chairman and said eligibility criteria must be taken in view.

Despite the chair’s polite reminder that it was a farewell session for the retiring senators and they should get a chance to speak, Senator Javed went on to say that at least three confessional statements were on record on the wrongdoing in the Senate election on a general seat from Islamabad.

He said Mr Gilani, his son Ali Haider Gilani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz vice president Maryam Nawaz had made statements confirming that lawmakers had been lured by money and offers of party tickets.

Senate resolution pays tribute to political, economic, social achievements of women

The PTI senator referred to sections 156, 167 and 168 of the Elections Act 2017, which deals with the conditions for declaring election of a candidate null and void and define corrupt practices and bribery, and said that under the law it was an offence to offer bribe directly by a candidate or somebody else on his behalf.

Section 156 (1) of the Elections Act reads: “Election Tribunal shall declare the election of the returned candidate to be void if ... the election of the returned candidate has been procured or induced by any corrupt or illegal practice; or a corrupt or illegal practice has been committed by the returned candidate or his election agent or by any other person with the consent or connivance of the candidate or his election agent.”

Sections 167 and 168 of the Act define corrupt practices and bribery, respectively.

Women’s role lauded

The Senate unanimously passed a resolution in connection with International Women’s Day. The resolution, moved by PTI Senator Seeme Ezdi after the house business was suspended, paid tribute to the political, economic, social and cultural achievements of Pakistani women and girls, who are contributing their best in all walks of life.

“The house realises that though everyone is facing unprecedented challenges, women and girls are bearing the brunt of the economic and social fallout of Covid-19 including but not limited to mental stress, increased domestic violence, socio-economic adverse impacts, less job opportunities, restricted mobility and lesser pays,” read the resolution. It said the impacts of the pandemic were exacerbated for women and girls across every sphere, from health to the economy, and security to social protection.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2021