In an unexpected twist to the turn of events involving joint opposition's no-trust motion against Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Leader of the Opposition in Senate Raja Zafar-ul-Haq held a low-key meeting with the chairman Senate on Wednesday amidst speculations that the joint opposition was set to withdraw the no-confidence motion against Sanjrani.
The actual agenda of the said meeting remains a mystery as both Sanjrani and Haq were reluctant to share details of the meeting that took place at the Parliament House.
However, insiders in former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) believe that the meeting between Zafar-ul-Haq, who is also chairman PML-N, and Sadiq Sanjrani implies that the PML-N has softened its policy towards Sanjrani in a bid to mend ways with the state institutions amidst problems piling up for the former ruling party especially in the aftermath of accountability judge's videos leak controversy.
"There is a perception about Sanjrani that he has the backing of the powers that be. In the prevailing circumstances, our party cannot afford to take any step that could backfire and offend state institutions," said a PML-N leader, requesting anonymity.
"It was the joint opposition's decision to move no-confidence motion against chairman Senate and our party cannot detach from the opposition forces but the PML-N has not shown much enthusiasm to have Sanjrani removed. This explains why our party has not nominated its own candidate for slot of chairman Senate and has only agreed to joint opposition's nomination for chairman Senate slot (Hasil Bizenjo)," the source said.
The development took place at a time when the reports are doing rounds suggesting a possible deal between the former ruling party PML-N and the powerful quarters in what is being dubbed as a possible scenario that might allow former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz to fly to Britain on the pretext of Nawaz's medical treatment.
Reports also suggest that PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif is also trying to strike a deal with the powerful quarters to get relief in serious corruption cases he and his son Hamza Shahbaz are facing.
In this backdrop, the meeting between Haq and Sanjrani is being termed as significant. "Needless to forget that our party in general and leadership in particular are in a mess and we don't want to take any risk that could offend the powers that be," said a PML-N leader, requesting anonymity. He, however, said the PML-N alone cannot withdraw no-confidence motion against Sanjrani as other opposition parties have to be in the loop before taking any such decision.
In the last year's Senate election, Sanjrani had secured 57 votes against Haq's 46 to become the chairman Senate. Apart from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Sanjrani was also said to be having strong support of 'hidden hands' that apparently helped him elevate to the chairman Senate slot even though he was elected as a senator for the first time and had no prior experience of running the affairs of the Upper House of the Parliament.
Both Sanjrani and Zafar-ul-Haq avoided media queries after their meeting. "Isn't their anything else for us to discuss (in the meeting)?" Sanjrani asked back, when asked by a reporter if his meeting with Haq discussed the no-confidence motion. The chairman Senate expressed ignorance when asked to comment on the reports that opposition was going to withdraw no-confidence motion. "I have no clue or information," he said.
When approached, Raja Zafar-ul-Haq also did not share details. "Speculations need to be avoided," he told Business Recorder when asked to comment on his meeting with Sanjrani.
"I am the leader of the opposition in Senate and he is chairman Senate. It is by virtue of our official assignments that we keep on meeting each other to discuss a host of relevant matters involving the House business. We held a routine meeting which has followed unnecessary speculations and rumours. I cannot discuss this matter any further," he said.
On July 9, for the first time ever in the legislative history of Pakistan, the opposition senators, except from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), submitted a no-confidence resolution for the removal of chairman Senate. The opposition also moved a related requisition to convene the session of the Upper House of the Parliament for the introduction of no-confidence motion against Sanjrani.
On July 12, in a tit for tat response, the senators from treasury benches moved a no-confidence resolution against Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwalla. The Senate session to consider the respective no-confidence motions is expected to be convened soon.
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