Sherry Rehman appointed as Senate Opp leader, makes history

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in Senate on Thursday, becoming the first woman to bag the honour.

A notification was issued by the Senate Secretariat in this regard on the directives of the chairman.

On March 15, the senator submitted her nomination papers to the Senate chairman as the Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House of the parliament.

Sherry had submitted her nomination papers bearing signatures of at least 34 senators from various opposition parties, including independents, except the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), in her support.

At the time, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had said the party was making history by nominating the first woman to lead the opposition.

Earlier, the late Benazir Bhutto had served as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly during the two previous PML-N governments in the 1990s.

“I would like to thank Chairman PPP Bilawal, co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and party peers on this occasion. Congratulations to everyone! I would also like to thank the Fata group, the Awami National Party (ANP) and others who pledged support. The PPP wants everyone to work in unison to ensure the Senate continues to deliver,” Rehman shared in a video message.