Senate elections and PML-N’s mess
With the PPP and JUI-F declining to support the proposed 22nd Amendment, the chapter on Senate elections by show of hand is closed for the time being. As things stand, the PML-N and PTI are likely to get lesser representation in the Senate than was their due on account of their numerical strength in the provincial assemblies. In case the PPP, MQM and JUI-F join hands, they might also make it difficult for the PML-N to get the chairmanship of the Senate.
The PPP and JUI-F are likely to make use of the vulnerabilities of their rivals to increase their representation in the Senate. The PML-N needs JUI-F’s support in Balochistan which will come with a price tag. The PML-N has annoyed a chunk of its own MPAS in Punjab and KP while making nominations for the Senate. The legislators from the Seraiki belt are unhappy with the leadership for ignoring the region while issuing tickets for the Upper House. Another source of bickering is the nomination of outsiders for the Punjab and Islamabad quota. How deep-seated the resentment happens to be would become clear when the results are announced. In case PPP’s Nadeem Afzal Chan is elected, this would only be on account of PML-N dissenters. In KP a number of party MPAs are unhappy over the preference given to a retired general who is also a newcomer over senior aspirants. But the PPP, ANP and JUI-F can, however, make inroads only if they agree on a common slate of candidates.
The failure to bar the moneybags from buying their way to Senate would cause the Upper House to lose some of its shine. What is more, this would also have a negative impact on the prestige of the Parliament and the system. Both the PML-N and PTI will have to share much of the blame for this. The PML-N remained lukewarm to electoral reforms while the PTI adamantly refused to send its members back to National Assembly to join the Committee on Electoral Reforms.
