ISLAMABAD: Pakistan 's political parties are set to elect the members of the Senate the upper house of parliament tomorrow, amid allegations that money was being used to buy votes.Senate has 104 members elected for six years, but half of them retire every three years at completion of term and new Senators are elected indirectly by provincial and national assemblies through proportional representation.According to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), polling will be held at the four provincial and the national assembly buildings. It will start at 9 am and will continue till 4 pm.The 52 Senators retiring this month were elected in 2012. The other 52 were elected in 2015 and will serve until 2021.The ECP has taken several decisions to ensure vote privacy during the elections. It will help it control legislation as previously PPP was in majority in Senate and the ruling party needed its support for lawmaking.Reports and allegations of massive use of money to buy votes have been doing rounds ahead of the elections. A candidates having support of just three lawmakers can land in the upper house of parliament.Almost all political parties have expressed dismay at the elections laws of Senate and promised to improve them.

Source: Economic Times March 02, 2018 13:41 UTC