President Asif Ali Zardari has turned down the recommendation of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s high-powered parliamentary board regarding nominations from Sindh, and awarded the party ticket to Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. Earlier, the parliamentary board had advised the president, who is also co-chairman of the PPP, not to give a party ticket to Shaikh and instead adjust a party leader from Sindh as Shaikh would be of no use in case the party failed to form the next government. However, a source told Pakistan Today that the president thought this decision might jeopardise the party’s budgetary preparations.
Thus, the president gave the ticket to Shaikh after a close aide of the former finance minister convinced the president that he would remain loyal to the party even if it failed to achieve a majority in future elections. Currently, Shaikh is working as adviser to the prime minister on finance after suspension of his Senate membership by the Supreme Court. However, after being elected to the Senate, Shaikh would again be given the portfolio of finance minister.
Hafeez Shaikh wins Senate ticket again
