The already controversial Senate election became even more contentious when ‘spy’ cameras were found in the polling booth ahead of voting for the chairman and deputy chairman slots. What the Opposition said: The Opposition led by Pakistan Peoples Party’s Raza Rabbani on Friday claimed that “spy cameras” have been installed in the polling booths set for senators to cast their votes in the election. “It is against Article 226 of the Constitution,” he said, as the house resounded with “shame, shame
The opposition demanded that an investigation be carried out into who was “in control of the Senate” How the cameras were fou nd: Earlier in the day, PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar claimed that he and PML-N Senator Musadiq Malik found “spy cameras” above the polling booth. Dr Malik said that both of them were directed by their respective parties to check the polling booth before the election.
Myself and Dr Musadik found spy cameras right over the polling booth!!!! pic.twitter.com/aqRGFRYFbq
— Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar (@mustafa_nawazk) March 12, 2021
Dr Musadik Malik termed the presence of the cameras a “freaking joke”.
What a freaking joke
The senate polling booth has secret /hidden cameras installed
SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY pic.twitter.com/S7OapMhZtn— Dr. Musadik Malik (@DrMusadikMalik) March 12, 2021
Government Response: Adding more fuel to fire, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said that it looked more like a “CCTV cable” camera and not a “spy camera” as claimed by the senator.
Appears more like a CCTV cable,spy cameras are far more sophisticated Seceratay Senate should look into this claim https://t.co/JFmynURhtB
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 12, 2021
The Federal Minister also shared an example of how a spy camera would be. He shared a picture of a camera fitted in a nail, saying that it was likely the CCTV camera cable has been misunderstood by the PDM lawmakers as a “spy camera”.
This is one example of Spy Camera the camera can be fitted in a head of nail even,detection of such cameras is impossible, in all likelihood CCTV Camera cable is misunderstood as spy camera pic.twitter.com/KPu8a2RCpA
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 12, 2021
After his claims, Mustafa Nawaz Khokar started to investigate on the Minister’s lead and surprisingly enough, he claimed to have found a camera fitted on a nail as well.
There’s absolutely no need for a screw on this… camera visible in the scew pic.twitter.com/WvkXXnNgRb
— Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar (@mustafa_nawazk) March 12, 2021
There you go brother @fawadchaudhry pic.twitter.com/rtQKPExbi5
— Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar (@mustafa_nawazk) March 12, 2021
People’s reaction: Pakistani Twitterati were quick to respond to the news with hilarious memes. Check out some of the tweets on Pakistani Twitter:
Those were Sipahi cameras, not spy cameras. #یہ_جو_کیمرہ_گردی_ہے pic.twitter.com/j7jIwXpPa3
— عثمان چوہدری مہروکا (❤پکا پٹواری❤) (@SHERJAWAN007) March 12, 2021
#یہ_جو_کیمرہ_گردی_ہے
Thanks Fawad chaudhry secret agent of apposition pic.twitter.com/IlmKOYxurR— syed (@Bilalshah0000) March 12, 2021
Spy camera in the Senate. pic.twitter.com/DsbI3eqqP4
— kazmi. (@HaayeShabbir) March 12, 2021