The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its allies in the Senate are keenly observing the political developments in the country, particularly those concerning the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) future course of action, before challenging Abdul Ghafoor Haideri’s appointment as leader of the opposition in the Senate in the Supreme Court.
A source in the PML-N told Pakistan Today on Tuesday that as the Altaf-led party was indecisive about whether to rejoin the PPP-led government at the Centre, the PML-N was holding its decision of challenging Haideri’s appointment. “If the MQM rejoins the government, it will not remain part of the opposition benches and strengthen PML-N Ishaq Dar’s position for the slot,” the source said.
The MQM has six senators and in his decision of appointing Haideri as opposition leader, the Senate chairman had counted them in support of Haideri despite severe objection from the PML-N and its allies.
The PML-N had objected to the MQM’s right to vote for opposition leader as, according to it, the MQM joined the opposition benches after the June 6 decision of the Senate chairman which triggered a rumpus and controversy in the House.
The MQM had joined the opposition even after the conclusion of subsequent debate over the issue in the House. The MQM had many times left the government and joined the opposition and on June 30, 2011 it had again left the government and joined the opposition and gave an application for allocation of seats on the opposition benches in the Senate and subsequently announced its support for Haideri.
The PML-N and its allies had also objected to FATA members’ counting in the opposition benches and denial of vote to the PML-Q dissident senators. The source said, “The PML-N believes that its case is already strong enough and the MQM’s departure from the opposition benches will strengthen its position for the slot.” However, the recent developments on the political horizon of the country suggest that the MQM is unlikely to rejoin the federal government.
Senate Chairman Farooq Naik had revalidated Haideri’s appointment as opposition leader on July 19.
“In view of the discussion, I am of the opinion that Senator Ishaq Dar of the PML-N has the support of 15 members/senators. On the other hand, Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of JUI-F enjoys the support and confidence of 25 Members/Senators in the Senate. I, therefore, hold that Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri has been validly recognised as leader of the opposition in the Senate in terms of Rule 2 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 1988,” the chairman said in his ruling. The PML-N and its allies in the Senate had decided to challenge the Senate chairman ruling of appointing Haideri as opposition leader in the Supreme Court.