A special session in the senate of Pakistan was conducted today to elect the chairman and the deputy chairman of the Senate Pakistan and in a surprise to probably no one the Government’s candidate Senator Sadiq Sanjrani was elected Chairman. The process was interrupted early in the day after accusations by the Opposition who claimed that the Government was trying to hinder the whole voting procedure of the senate by unfair means but it all turned into a rather meme-worthy moment.
So, basically, PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and PML-N Senator Musadik Malik claimed that they found spy cameras installed in the polling booth of the Senate
They accused the Government of trying to influence the “secret” election process.
https://twitter.com/DrMusadikMalik/status/1370235911255031808
They later revealed that they allegedly found multiple cameras inside the polling booth
This initiated a debate in the Senate and the senators tried to ‘shame’ the Government, saying they were shocked to see that this is what the Government is doing for the democracy. They demanded an investigation to be carried out and also urged the Presiding Officer to change the polling booth.
There were suggestions regarding a fresh start for the voting process too.
https://twitter.com/DrMusadikMalik/status/1370238390323527684
Fawad Chaudhry, Minister of Science and Technology, promptly responded to the accusation by saying that the image shared by the senators looks more like a CCTV camera
In the words of the Minister, “Spy cameras are far more sophisticated.” He also requested the Secretary Senate to look into the claim.
Fawad Chaudhry sahab even shared the image of a spy camera to support his explanation regarding the accusation
Well, after this explanation the Opposition Senators found what they claimed was a screw spy camera too
https://twitter.com/DrMusadikMalik/status/1370270961136713728
Of course, Minister Chaudhry had a laugh about this
Hahahahah Good Luck:) https://t.co/KYVPYcOCib
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 12, 2021
In the midst of the ongoing debate, Shibli Faraz, the Information Minister, claimed that the spy cameras were actually installed by the Opposition themselves
He said that the ruling party PTI has always been in favor of fair and open voting so this is completely unacceptable. The Minister said, “How did they know that cameras were present? They did it themselves.”
Opposition’s sinister plan of cameras in polling booth exposed. The tactics used in senate elections in NA by opposition where they converted majority into minority using all criminal tactics. That’s why PDM opposed open ballot .Era of loot & plunder taking last breath.
— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) March 12, 2021
As this camera-gate fiasco unfolded, everyone on Pakistani internet couldn’t help but be utterly entertained at the elaborate twists and turns in this “scandal” involving Senators Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Musadik Malik and Minister Fawad Chaudhry
Yeh #SenateChairman election chal raha hai ya Johnny English ki movie? pic.twitter.com/5HnUwCn4Ey
— MangoBaaz (@mangobaaz) March 12, 2021
Naturally, Pakistanis were thoroughly enjoying this banter between Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Musadik Malik and Fawad Chaudhry & came up with hilarious jokes about all the types of things that could be the alleged spy cameras that they Opposition Senators kept on finding
Spy camera in the senate pic.twitter.com/W5lYOHKJqQ
— MangoBaaz (@mangobaaz) March 12, 2021
Some joked that by responding to Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Musadik Malik with an explanation Fawad Chaudhry had inadvertently helped the Opposition
So Fawad Chaudhry points to a specific type of spy cam and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar actually finds it in the Senate?
This is really incredible stuff.
— Salman Masood (@salmanmasood) March 12, 2021
Aur Fawad Chaudry ney Hukoomat ko marwa dia! 😂😂😂😂
— Areesha (@AreeshaPervez) March 12, 2021
Even the words ‘Sherlock Holmes’ were trending after people compared the Opposition Senators with the famed fictitious British spy
People also joked that the spy cameras that Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Musadik Malik and Fawad Chaudhry were bantering about were actually sipahi cameras
This was in reference to the allegations by people often how the Army is involved in political engineering of Pakistani politics.
But all in all, thanks to Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Musadik Malik and Fawad Chaudhry a lot of fun was had by Pakistani Twitter
The Art The Artist pic.twitter.com/13iFbLRHjz
— MangoBaaz (@mangobaaz) March 12, 2021
At the very least, use Logitech cameras.
— Fasi Zaka (@fasi_zaka) March 12, 2021
All memes aside, there should actually be a transparent investigation into the allegations of spying on the privacy of Senators while they cast their votes because free and fair elections are essential to the sanctity of our democracy. It would also be helpful to clarify whose side of allegations are correct about whether the Government installed these “spy cameras” or the Opposition.
So, what are your thoughts about this? let us know in the comments below.