Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are engaged in intense lobbying to get control of the Upper House of Parliament for the next three-years. Efforts for the top slot of Chairman Senate began on 4th March, the day following the elections, as neither PML-N nor PPP gained a simple majority in the House where 12 votes of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and 13 independent senators are likely to play an important role in election of the chairman.
The PML-N, as expected given its strength in the national and provincial assemblies, has emerged as the single largest party with 33 seats. Together with its present allies the party can garner support of 46 senators, including 33 of its own, 5 each by National Party and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, one of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and two independents from FATA who have announced their support for the PML-N. The MQM-P with its five senators is likely to support the PML-N but that would give the party a total of 51 - two short of the 53 required to elect the chair.
The PML-N is reportedly deliberating on nominating one of two candidates, Pervaiz Rashid or Ishaq Dar, for the slot of chairman Senate. However party sources told that finale decision would be taken by Nawaz Sharif himself. Given the narrative of the twice disqualified Nawaz Sharif - as the prime minister and head of the party - it is unlikely that he would agree to a chairman who is not loyal to him personally or agree to the demand of the Baloch senators that this time the Senate chair should be from Balochistan which, analysts argue, leaves the field open for the wily Zardari.
PPP with 20 seats in the Senate is the runner up and is trying to get support of the PTI and independents from Balochistan and FATA to field a joint candidate for the slot. According to the PPP sources, they can muster support of at least 53 senators - 20 Senators of PPP, 12 of PTI who may be convinced to extend support for Raza Rabbani or if the senate chair is from Balochistan, 4 of JUI-F, 13 independents (six from Balochistan and seven from FATA), two of Jamat-e-Islami and one each by ANP and Balochistan National Party-Mengal.
PML-N insiders told Business Recorder that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has tasked his key party members to get support of the independents and allied parties including Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, JUI-F, National Party and Muslim League-Functional for the election of a PML-N chairman Senate. The newly elected members will take oath on March 12, Chairman and Deputy Chairman Senate will also be elected on the same day.
Talking to the media, PML-N Senator and secretary information Mushahidullah Khan said that his party is in a clear position to elect its chairman and deputy chairman however the nomination for the slots is yet to be finalised. He said his leadership is willing to talk with opposition parties as well including the PTI and PPP to get support for the PML-N candidates.
When asked if the PML-N could agree on Mian Raza Rabbani as a consensus candidate for the top slot, he ruled out the possibility, saying "if he (Raza Rabbani) were in the PML-N, he would have been the candidate for the slot." As no party is in a position to elect its chairman on its own, intense lobbying is underway to get support of the smaller parties and independents.
As a first step, the PPP Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Sunday contacted the PTI vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi to discuss possibilities of a consensus candidate for the slot. PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari who is famous for his political acumen is also scheduled to meet the JUI-F chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman on March 8 in Islamabad.
The PPP sources told Business Recorder that Asif Zardari has been advised by the party senior leaders not to accept proposal of a consensus candidate forwarded by Nawaz Sharif as this would negatively impact on the PPP in the general elections. The PPP leaders have also advised Zardari to woo support of PTI for a joint candidate for both the slots of Chairman and Deputy Chairman instead of agreeing to the PML-N proposal.
The PPP sources told that Zardari has proposed Sherry Rehman and Farooq H Naik for the chairmanship of Senate but talks are underway with the six Senators-elect from Balochistan who have demanded the top Senate slot for a Baloch.
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