- PPP likely to give Senate chairmanship, deputy’s position to coalition partners
- PML-N has reportedly tasked NP’s Hasil Bizenjo for winning support of Baloch nationalist parties for election to Senate top seat
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the majority party in the Senate, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have accelerated contacts with other political parties for the coveted slots of the Senate chairman and deputy chairman, elections for which would be held on March 12.
Sources told Pakistan Today that it is likely that the PPP would support its allies for the two positions while the PML-N is reportedly canvassing for National Party’s Hasil Bizenjo for the Senate chairmanship.
Informed sources said that PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has invited representatives of opposition parties in the Senate for a meeting in order to develop a consensus on filling the two important slots of the Upper House. The meeting is scheduled to be held at Zardari House in the federal capital on Monday, reports said.
Earlier, Zardari had invited Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) to meet him on Saturday evening but the meeting was later cancelled and now a joint meeting of opposition parties will be held on Monday. Zardari also held meeting with PPP Central Punjab President Manzoor Wattoo and other party leaders in this regard.
PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that schedule of meeting with different political leaders, including those from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), is being considered for filling the important slot of Senate chairman and deputy chairman.
The Awami National Party (ANP) has also confirmed the invitation for consultation with PPP.
ANP leader and former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Amir Haider Hoti said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique had also approached ANP for consultation over the seat of Senate chairman and deputy chairman. The ANP leader, however, ruled out any support for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Meanwhile, the PML-N is also engaged in consultations over the upcoming elections for the two top Senate slots.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with senior party leaders in this regard at the Prime Minister’s House on Saturday.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with National Party chief Hasil Bizenjo and ANP chief Asfand Yar Wali and congratulated them over their victory in Upper House.
Sources said that Bizenjo has been tasked to win over support of Balochistan’s nationalist parties for his election to the Senate top position. In this regard, Bizenjo said that he will abide by any decision made by the coalition parties.
Railways Minister Saad Rafique contacted MQM leaders and Pervez Rashid contacted Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq and sought their support.
Commenting on the developments, Federal Information Minister Senator Pervez Rashid said that no decision has been made by PML-N as yet for the two Senate positions. He said that consultations are going on with various political parties on the matter and a final decision would be made after completion of this process.
