ISLAMABAD: In a bid to gather enough support to install chairman and deputy chairman of their choice, Pakistan People’s Party – the leading party in Senate – has invited like-minded parties to attend a meeting on Monday.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has also formed a committee to contact other political forces for the same.
The PPP’s multi-party moot would be held on Monday and is likely to be attended by MQM, ANP, JUI-F, PML-Q and BNP.
After Thursday’s election, the current strength of the mentioned parties is 26 with MQM 8, ANP 7, JUI-F 5, PML-Q 4 and BNP with 2 senate seats.
With PPP’s 27 seats, the coalition would easily win the poll for chairman and deputy chairman’s posts. However, only time would tell if Asif Ali Zardari – the former president and PPP co-chairman, known for his skills when it comes to politics of reconciliation – is successful in wooing these lawmakers.
Meanwhile, MQM chief Altaf Hussain has given a nod to form a committee to contact other political forces for the same. Dr Khalid Mqabool Siddiqui, Rauf Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar, Kunwar Naveed Jamil, Babar Ghauri and Barrister Farogh Nasim are included in the committee.
According to sources, the ruling Pakistan Muslim Laeague-Nawaz (PML-N) has already recommended the name of National Party (NP) leader Mir Hasil Bizenjo for the post of Senate Chairman.
The PPP has also reportedly put forward the name of Senator Rubina Rauf for Deputy Chairperson.
Both the leading parties – the PML-N and PPP – are hopeful to enjoy the privilege after bagging 26 and 27 seats respectively in the Thursday’s Senate polls.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, whose party managed to bag six seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has already vowed not to vote for the candidates of both PML-N and PPP.