ISLAMABAD: A much-needed voter of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in Friday’s (today) election for chairman and deputy chairman of the Senate escaped his arrest as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab from taking him into custody till March 20.

Senator Hafiz Abdul Karim claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government had decided to arrest him in an old case in order to stop him from casting his vote for Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, the PDM’s candidates for chairman and deputy chairman of the Senate, respectively.

Hafiz Karim, who is a former member of the National Assembly, was elected to the upper house of parliament in 2018. His term will expire in 2024. He was elected against the seat reserved for “technocrats, including Ulema”.

According to the court’s documents, Hafiz Karim is facing a First Information Report (FIR) No 99/2016 registered on Nov 12, 2016, under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, at Police Station ACE, Multan district.

The case was about changing the status of the residential land and converting it into a commercial plot.

Advocate Sardar Latif Khan Khosa and Mian Faisal Irfan appeared on behalf of the senator.

Advocate Khosa contended before the court that the government had planned to arrest the petitioner in order to restrain him from casting his vote in the Senate elections on Friday (today).

The petitioner contended that he belongs to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and has extended his support to the PDM’s candidate for the Senate chairman slot.

The senator further stated that since there is a very narrow margin between the government and opposition alliances, every single vote is of immense importance.

He contended that the government is applying cheap tactics and using institutions to forcibly manipulate the results.

It may be mentioned that Senator Hafiz Karim, during a press conference with PML-N’s stalwarts Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal and Merriyum Aurangzeb, claimed that he had received calls on March 6 and 7 and the caller asked him to vote for government’s candidate Sadiq Sanjrani.

The petitioner stated that he has been accused of not depositing some outstanding amounts and despite the fact that he was not nominated in the FIR, he is ready to join the investigation.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2021