ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are locked in a tough battle to grab the slot of Senate chairman.
Both the political adversaries are going to all lengths to rope in the newly elected independent senators.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has also thrown its hat in the ring but it seems the party will not support either of the two parties.
The PML-N is considering Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Senator Ishaq Dar and Senator Mushahidullah for the top office.
Reports are rife that the PPP is considering Salim Mandviwala and Senator Sherry Rehman for the post but the hard core group is backing Mian Raza Rabbani for the slot.
Sources say both the parties will disclose their cards for the slots of chairman and deputy chairman by Friday or Saturday, as the newly elected senators will take oath on Monday (March 12) and elections for the chairman Senate and deputy chairman would also be held the same day.
Sources say though the PTI Chairman Imran Khan is not interested in supporting the PPP candidate for the slot of chairman after the Senate election upset in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah has contacted the PTI deputy parliamentary leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi to bridge the gap between the two parties to bring a consensus candidate to head the upper house of Parliament.
However, sources say talks can move ahead if the PPP brings a person who is acceptable to the PTI and it can be Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani.
“Mian Raza Rabbani will be the last option for the PPP if it wants to lead the Senate,” the sources said.
There are 33 PML-N candidates, 20 PPP candidates, 15 independents, 12 PTI candidates, five candidates of MQM, PkMAP and NP each, four candidates of JUI-F, two candidates of JI, and one candidate each from the PML-F, ANP and Balochistan National Party-Mengal in the house of 104 members.
Fifty-four votes are needed for the election of chairman and deputy chairman.
Independent senator from Fata Mirza Afridi has joined the PML-N. The PML-N leaders have also reached out to the PkMAP, NP and JUI in their effort to secure the support of seven senators from Balochistan, with six belonging to its allies and one independent.
The PPP has offered the post of deputy chairman to senators from Balochistan.
JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and MQM hold the trump card in this game of numbers. Fazlur Rehman has not nailed his colours to the mast yet.
Meanwhile, a PPP delegation, comprising Qayyum Soomro and Senator Salim Mandviwala, Tuesday met with the independent Fata senators and claimed to have the support of eight senators.
According to sources, the Fata senators sought the chairmanship of four standing committees of the Senate and the post of deputy chairman.
They also sought a written agreement with the PPP in support of the merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sources said the PPP delegation accepted the demands of four chairmanships of standing committees of the Senate and support on the merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; however, they sought time to consult the party leadership on the demand for the post of deputy chairman Senate.
The meeting was attended by senators Hidayatullah, Bilalur Rehman, Taj Muhammad Afridi, Aurangzeb Khan, Sajjad Turi, Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Momin Khan Afridi and Nasir Khan Afridi.
from The News International - National
0 comments: