PESHAWAR: Six Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) have formed their own group and decided to vote together for the same candidates during the upcoming Senate election. This has forced the political parties and wealthy aspirants for the Upper House of Parliament to accept their terms, it has been learnt.Thirty-six candidates are vying for four Senate seats in Fata but only eight to 10 candidates would contest elections in the end. Whoever gets the support of the six MNAs from Fata would stand better chances of success to become a senator. Realising their importance in the existing situation, the six MNAs have reportedly disappeared from the scene. The influential candidates for Senate are trying to either finalise deal with the group of six or divide it. Out of the total 12 Fata MNAs, 11 would cast votes in the absence of any elected MNA from Kurram Agency, which has two seats in the National Assembly. The unity of six MNAs out of 11 has become a challenge and headache for all. A source told The News that the group of six has resolved to elect all the four senators as whoever obtained six votes would become a senator. The sources confirmed that the unity of six MNAs have increased manifold the price of the already valued votes of the Fata MNAs. One of the six MNAs, while talking to The News, dispelled the impression that they got together in monetary pursuits. He claimed that they have teamed up to elect those candidates who assured them solution to problems of their area. The relative of a candidate for the Senate, wishing not to be named, said though the PML-N government and major political parties are planning to block the way of horse-trading and discussing various options for that, yet the six-member group would follow its own line of action. They appear unfazed by any curbs that may be placed on them. Rather, their stance has outwitted all the wealthy candidates and parties. When asked as to why a huge price, reportedly Rs100 million, has been fixed for a single Senate vote for Fata, the sources termed it a struggle for honour, prestige, status and ego. The fight for status has also become commercialised and it is impossible for common and efficient person to become a Member of Parliament, he added. “Though the rulers and political parties make tall claims about ending horse-trading but none seems serious,” he said pointing to issuance of tickets by Pakistan People’s Party, Qaumi Watan Party and PTI to moneyed candidates such as Waqar Ahmad Ahmad, Ammar Ahmad Khan, Mohsin Aziz and Liaqat Tarkai. “It will be a test case for the parties, particularly the PTI, and the nation will see as to whether its MPAs and MNAs would be able to resist lucrative offers for vote,” he quipped.The supporters of wealthy candidates observed that some candidates are tax defaulters of over Rs300 million but still the Election Commission of Pakistan allowed them to contest elections. Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Mohammad Ali has even challenged the candidature of the wealthy candidates. In an apparent act of desperation, some of the political parties such as the QWP and PTI have allotted tickets to wealthy candidates to prevent their members from being bought to vote for rival candidates.
