For the first time ever in the legislative history of Pakistan, the opposition senators, except those from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Tuesday submitted a no-confidence resolution for the removal of the chairman Senate. The resolution contains the signatures of only 26 opposition senators, the one-fourth of 104-member Senate, which is the minimum number required to bring a no-confidence motion for the removal of Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani.
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. Opposition senators led by Leader of the Opposition in Senate Raja Zafar-ul-Haq held a detailed meeting at the leader of the opposition's chamber in Parliament House prior to the submission of the resolution.
Sources in opposition told Business Recorder that Haq, who was presiding over the meeting, expressed his concern that only 26 opposition senators had signed the resolution whereas the total strength of opposition in Senate, in favour of chairman Senate's removal, touches 65. "Only 26 of us took the time to be here and sign the no-confidence resolution. With this kind of slack attitude, how can we even think of having the chairman Senate de-seated?" sources quoted Haq as saying during the meeting.
Later, the opposition senators visited the office of Secretary Senate Muhammad Anwar where they submitted the no-confidence resolution and the related requisition. Talking to media after the submission of resolution, Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP's) Parliamentary Leader in Senate Sherry Rehman confirmed that 26 senators signed the no-confidence resolution. Out of them, 20 senators who signed the no-confidence resolution belonged to PPP, she said, adding that only PPP Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, the Deputy Chairman Senate, did not sign the resolution.
In the light of relevant constitutional provisions, the Senate session has to be convened within 14 days of the submission of requisition to convene the session, Rehman said. Speaking to Business Recorder, Raja Zafar-ul-Haq claimed that opposition members would comfortably get the no-confidence motion against the chairman Senate passed. When asked that only 26 senators signed the no-confidence resolution, he said, "You will see the opposition's real strength during voting stage when opposition lawmakers in maximum numbers would take part to vote out the chairman Senate."
Haq said the name of opposition's candidate for chairman Senate is not yet finalised and it would be announced tomorrow (Thursday) by Rahbar Committee, an anti-government alliance of opposition parties except JI. He denied that opposition is locked in serious differences over finalising a candidate for the slot of chairman Senate if Sanjrani is removed from office. "Our candidate for the chairman Senate slot would be announced after thorough consultations - with the mutual consensus of all the forces of joint opposition," he said.
Constitutionally, when a no-confidence resolution against the chairman Senate is submitted in the Senate Secretariat, it requires the support of at least one-fourth of total membership of Senate (26 out of 104) to have the motion passed. If the motion is passed, the Senate session is convened and a non-confidence motion is presented in the House. Then, voting is held to determine the will of the House - whether the senators want to retain the chairman or have him removed from office. If majority vote (of the senators present at the time of voting) is cast in favour of the chairman, he retains his seat. If majority vote goes against him, he stands removed from the office.
Numerically, the opposition parties' strength is 65 seats, excluding two seats of JI which does not support removal of chairman Senate. One senator-elect Ishaq Dar from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), who is in the United Kingdom, has not taken oath as a senator and is therefore not eligible to vote.
On the other hand, the strength of PTI and its allies stands at 38 seats in the Senate. But given that voting on no-confidence motion is held through secret ballot, the chances for a senator to change his/her loyalty and vote against party policy stand high. "The PTI-led treasury benches may not be in majority in the Senate but they are in the government and the government has the potential of drawing maximum leverage from secret ballot, as horse-trading cannot be stopped in secret ballot because it cannot be determined who voted for whom," said an opposition senator, requesting anonymity.
MONITORING DESK adds:
KARACHI: The differences within PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party came to surface on the issue of no-trust move against Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani. Aaj News reported Tuesday that PML-N's Pir Sabir Shah complained at the opposition parties' meeting that he was not taken into confidence on the issue. Musadik Malik replied that the party leadership decided so that is why they were attending the meeting.
Sabir Shah retorted that he is senior and rendered sacrifices and Malik should not negate his stance. Musadik asked him to refrain from talking loudly.
Rehman Malik too complained that he was not consulted. He asked reason to remove chairman senate. On this, Sherry Rehman retorted he should remain silent. Rehman Malik said she was not allowing him even to talk.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's close aide Mustafa Khokhar told him that they were with the decision of the party leadership.
Comments
Comments are closed.