- PKMAP announces to support PML-N, FATA members to PPP
- PTI backs Senate chairman from Balochistan
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have expedited their contacts with small parties and the independent candidates, who have won seats in Senate elections, to get their backing for the chairmanship.
Political analysts say that the opposition parties are united on one point that they would not allow the PML-N to get its candidate elected as Chairman Senate.
Nawaz Sharif had headed PML-N meeting in which independent senator from FATA Mirza Afridi joined PML-N. PML-N leaders also reached out to PkMAP, NP and JUI. PML-N is trying to secure the support of 7 senators from Balochistan, with 6 belonging to its allies and one independent.
The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) on Tuesday assured PML-N of its complete support in the upcoming Senate elections for the slot of chairman.
The PML-N is also trying to woo Jamaat-i-Islami votes and talks are underway between the top leaders of both the parties. The National Party of Dr Abdul Malik Baloch is also certain to support the PML-N.
The situation to approach for the MQM-P votes is confusing for both the parties as the rifts among the Bahadurabad and PIB faction has divided the rank and file of the party and could also affect the Senators of the party.
“The PPP and PML-N are confused as to who would be approached for the party votes whether Farooq Sattar or Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui,” they said adding that it is likely that party senators would be approached individually.
The MQM is likely to go for the PML-N as both the factions are highly annoyed with the PPP for wooing its MPAs and getting PPP candidates elected as Senator.
PPP also seems to be in action as it offers the post of Deputy Chairman to senators from Balochistan. PPP supreme Asif Ali Zardari has claimed that the PPP would again succeed in getting its candidate elected as Chairman.
Qayyum Soomro, a close confidant of Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday met six FATA Senators who reportedly agreed to support the PPP. Qayyum Soomro also met JUI(F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The JUI(F) has four members in the upper house and has been enjoying good relations with both the PML-N and the PPP. The Party is in the coalition government at the centre while during last Senate Chairman elections, it manoeuvred the post of Deputy Chairman.
Featured Image: Geo News
