Islamabad (Web Desk): Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Thursday claimed that around 50 members of the provincial assembly belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) may not vote for Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervaiz Elahi in the chief minister’s election on Friday.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said that 'politically aware' lawmakers of PTI will either use their right to vote against the PML-Q leader or they might refrain from casting their votes altogether.
He added that honourable lawmakers should "not waste" their votes for electing, Pervaiz Elahi whom Imran Khan had earlier termed a "dacoit".
Rana sanaullah said that the PML-N will exercise all political options to win that election in a legal way and without using money.
"PML-N does not believe in sale and purchase of votes," the minister said, adding that it was Imran Khan and his party that massively used money and aeroplane to buy members' loyalty just after the general election of 2018.
Responding a question on PML-N defeat in Punjab by-polls, Rana Sanaullah said that the party supported all the candidates in the polls with sincerity but voters did not accept the candidates.
But in future, the parliamentary board will decide regarding giving tickets to turncoats.
It is pertinent to mention that the PTI won at least 15 out of 20 constituencies on in the Punjab by-elections on July 17 while PML-N could secure only four seats.
An independent candidate also managed to get one seat.
The 20 seats of Punjab Assembly fell vacant after the ECP de-seated the PTI lawmakers for voting for PML-N's candidate Hamza Shehbaz in election for the chief minister’s slot.
Before the by-elections, the PTI and PML-Q had already jointly attained the strength of 173 (163 of PTI and 10 of PML-Q).
However, after the elections, with 15 additional seats, this strength has reached 188 whereas the figure for the simple majority stands at 186.
Members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs) will elect the new chief minister on July 22 (Friday).