ISLAMABAD, MAR 04 (DNA) – The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated incumbent Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani for the top slot in the Upper House of the Parliament and he would face Pakistan Democratic Movement’s newly-elected senator Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.
The PDM candidate Yousaf Raza Gillani is likely to become Senate Chairman after opposition alliance secured a six member lead over incumbent ruling coalition. The opposition’s PDM has gained an upper hand in the 100-member upper house of the parliament as the number of members of the opposition alliance rose to 53.
PDM members include 20 from the PPP, 18 from the PML-N, five from the JUI-F, three from BNP-Mengal, two each from ANP, PkMAP and National Party and one independent.
On the other hand, the number of ruling coalition stands at 47 including 26 from PTI, 12 from BAP, three from MQM-P, one each from PML-Q and Muslim League Functional and four independent Senators.
Federal Information Minister Senator Shibli Faraz said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has nominated Sadiq Sanjrani for the Senate chairmanship. The PTI is impressed with the way Sadiq Sanjrani has run the Senate during the last three years, he added.
In a tweet uploaded on Thursday, Shibli Faraz said, “Prime Minister Ìmrañ Khan has announced Sadiq Sanjrani (name) for Senate chairmanship.” Shibli Faraz said Sadiq Sanjrani will be the candidate of the government and its allies and he is the best candidate.
Talking to newsmen in Islamabad on Wednesday night, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto declared that after Gilani’s victory in Senate elections he will also be get elected as chairman of the Upper House of the Parliament. The TV channel reported that the Prime Minister on Thursday met the senior leadership of the party and consulted them about the various matters.
After completion of the much-hyped Senate election process, there are now elections on key offices of chairman and deputy chairman of the upper house due for which elections through secret balloting will be held on March 12. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also asked the newly-elected senators to file their election expenditure returns within five days so that the official announcement of their victory is issued.
The TV channel quoting sources said Sadiq Sanjrani called the PML-Q leader and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and sought his party’s support on which Pervaiz Elahi assured him of it. Reportedly, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has not yet formally announced its candidates for the two offices of Senate chairman and deputy chairman.
Separately, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi said, “Hafeez Shaikh’s defeat in the Senate election proved PM Imran Khan’s narrative of horse trading & fully exposed PDM’s definition of ‘vote ko izzat do’! PTI candidates won all seats across the country including the women’s seat in Islamabad where we polled 174 votes.” = DNA
