On Thursday, the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked that the Senate is a "mature and serious forum" that "needs secrecy to perform its functions."
The chief justice was hearing a case related to the presidential reference seeking Senate elections via open ballot, a process which would end secret voting.
The chief justice added that there is a need to "remain cognisant of corrupt practices entering the Upper House."
During the hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan said that "whoever comes on a provincial assembly party ticket should vote according to party policy as the political party is accountable to the people."
In a reply, the chief justice said that "democracy is not visible even in political parties."