In order to ensure transparency and end horse-trading, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said that the government wants that the upcoming Senate polls should be held through open ballot instead of the secret ballot.

Speaking to media officials, FM Qureshi said that they wanted that horse-trading, corrupt practices, trade of loyalty amid Senate elections should be ended.

There was a clear contradiction between the words and deeds of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), he added.

The foreign minister said that PML-N and PPP had sighed the charter of democracy but now both the parties have backtracked from the contract.

Earlier in a day, President Dr Arif Alvi has signed the Elections (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 for Senate elections to be held via an “open and identifiable ballot”.

The Ordinance will be effective with immediate effect subject to the interpretation of the Supreme Court on Presidential reference already sub-judice in the apex court.

The amendment has been introduced in section 33, 86 and 122 of the Election Act 2017.

Under the new ordinance, the election for Senate will be held on the open ballot.

President Dr. Arif Alvi signs the Elections (Amendment) Ordinance 2021. pic.twitter.com/Vx0md3BiKy

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) February 6, 2021

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