ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Thursday nominated former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani as its candidate for the coveted post of Senate Chairman.
Jamil Soomro, Political Secretary to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari issued an announcement in this regard.
According to the agreement between PPP and PML-N, the posts of President, Senate Chairman and Governor of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were given to the PPP, while the posts of Deputy Chairman of the Senate, Speaker of the National Assembly and Governor of Sindh and Balochistan were given to the PML-N.
If he gets the support of three MQM-P senators and five JUI-F senators, then the tally will be 62, indicating that the ruling coalition candidate will be in a comfortable position to win the election.
On the other hand, PTI has the support of 20 senators and one each from BNP and PML-Q, making the tally 22.
If the JUI-F decides to sit with the opposition, it will have a total of 27 members.
It may be mentioned that the 11-seat Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not take place as the Election Commission of Pakistan postponed the elections there.
If elected as Senate President, Gilani will create a unique record of having served as Speaker of the National Assembly, Prime Minister and Senate President.
Senate meeting on April 9
The Senate is due to convene for a new year’s constituent meeting on April 9, at which the newly elected members of the upper house of parliament would take the oath.
According to parliamentary sources, following the recent appointment of newly elected Senator Ishaq Dar as Speaker due to the vacancies of Senate Speaker and Deputy Speaker, preparations are underway to convene the meeting.
Both Sadiq Sanjrani and Mirza Muhammad Afridi completed their three-year terms as Speaker and Deputy Speaker before the recent Senate elections.
Therefore, it was necessary to appoint a chairman before the meeting of the Senate.
It is the first time that the Chamber of Deputies would be in session without a vote in the Assembly. Now the 96-member Senate will be shy of 11 members at its meeting.
“So far, there is no indication from the government that the election for the post of Senate President and Vice-President will take place after the oath of the new members has been taken. There is no legal obstacle even in the conduct of polls for the election of the administrator of the House and his deputy,” said the expert.
