On Monday, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was even ready to face the government for an open Senate vote and give it a "tough time."
"The government wants to make the Senate elections controversial like the general elections were made controversial," said the PPP chairperson, adding that the federal government was attempting to do so through ordinances and references.
He said that the "right to secret ballot" was available for every citizen of Pakistan so that no one could impede their right to elect their representative without fear of any reprisal or revenge of any sort.
"My right to secret ballot is being attacked, my MPAs' right to secret ballot is being attacked," he said. "We are supportive of electoral reforms but this government does not want it," added the PPP chairperson.
Bilawal said that if the government wanted to bring about electoral reforms, it could have done so easily over the past three years it was in power.
"When they got to know the Pakistan Democratic Movement was contesting Senate elections and they knew their MPAs and MNAs were not happy [with the government] they showed a lack of confidence in their own parliamentarians," he added.
The PPP chairperson said that the Opposition will challenge the presidential ordinance on the open Senate ballot signed by President Arif Alvi.
"If this law [ for open balloting in Senate election] passes then you should lock the assemblies," he said. "If the entire process has to be carried out through the president's office, then what is the use if assemblies?"
Bilawal termed it a "dangerous precedent," adding that the government's facilitators should understand that through such measures, a very bad impression and message of the country will be projected throughout Pakistan and abroad.
The PPP chairperson gave the government a dire warning, stating that its own members were ready to cast votes against them in case an open ballot is held in the Senate elections.