Sir: The periodical election to the upper house of the Parliament, the Senate of Pakistan, is scheduled to be held on March 3, 2018. This is when MNAs and MPAs will exercise their right to elect new Senators or retain outgoing Senators. It is quite alarming as well as shameful that certain people are indulging in ‘horse trading’, trying to get themselves a seat in the Senate, irrespective of any representation whatsoever in the national and provincial legislatures of the country. It is commendable that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has once again deplored the ongoing horse trading in the Senate elections and asked the Election Commission of Pakistan to look into attempts being made by certain nefarious individuals to buy themselves a seat in the Senate through satanic use of their massive wealth. According to the reports in the newspapers, the prime minister has indicated at boycotting Senators who are elected by purchasing votes and categorically stated that the ruling party is neither involved in any such act nor it supports the menace of horse trading. Without naming any particular party, the premier has asked as to how a party with not a single MPA in the province is talking about getting its nominated people elected to the Senate, those elected as the Senator through misuse and abuse of their massive wealth cannot and should not be allowed to represent the people. In his response to questions about caretaker political setup as well as a new chairman of the Senate, PM Abbasi said that the ruling party will nominate the candidate for top slot of Senate Chairman after consultation, Opposition leader in the National Assembly will be duly consulted about caretaker prime minister at an appropriate time and welcomed his statement that the caretaker PM should be a spotless person having the ability to organise transparent, free and fair elections. It is good to note that the PM is voicing his concern about horse trading in the Senate elections but he should pinpoint the elements who are indulging in such evil business so that the people at large detest and condemn these horse trading elements, please. Thanks. AAMER NAJMEE Lahore Published in Daily Times, February 18th 2018.