ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Mushaidullah Khan has alleged that billions of rupees were spent on the 103-vote election for the chairman and deputy chairman of Senate. Speaking to a private television news channel, Mushaidullah said, “There were three or four parties which were united. These parties want to take credit for this but the real credit goes to those who cannot be seen.” According to Mushaidullah, some people who had promised to vote for the party in the election failed to do so. “A renowned person from the independent group in Balochistan told [PML-N Senator] Raja Zafarul Haq that he did not vote for him, but the victory was his.” On Monday, Sadiq Sanjrani, an independent candidate from Balochistan backed by PPP, PTI and MQM-P was appointed Senate chairman after he secured 54 votes. His rival, Raja Zafarul Haq of the PML-N bagged 46 votes. Also, PPP’s Saleem Mandviwalla won the post of deputy chairman. Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has termed the outcome of the Senate election a “defeat for democracy”. “Everyone knew why the PPP and PTI went to Balochistan to strike an agreement,” he said. Published in Daily Times, March 14th 2018.