The newly-elected senators took oath Tuesday amid noisy protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), terming the process of election of chairman and deputy chairman as “unconstitutional” due to an “incomplete house”.
President Asif Ali Zardari had summoned the house to meet for its inaugural session today for the oath-taking of newly-elected members and the election of the Senate chairman and deputy chairman.
When the session began today with Senator Ishaq Dar as the presiding officer, the PTI members launched the protest and demanded adjournment of the house till the election of senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking on the floor of the house, PTI leader Senator Ali Zafar demanded the election be deferred as "the process would be unconstitutional till the house is complete".
Zafar also blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for making controversial decisions.
In response to the objections raised by the opposition members, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that nothing is unconstitutional happening here today and that the house is complete for all functional purposes.
He also blamed the PTI for creating obstacles in the election of senators from KP after which polls were postponed by the ECP.
Prior to the start of the session today, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party prepared the nomination papers for the chairman election while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominated Saidal Khan Nasir for the deputy chairman.
According to the current party position in the upper house, the ruling collation candidates have the support of 24 senators of PPP, 19 of PMLN, four of BAP, three senators of ANP, three Independents and one of the National Party, which makes a total of 54.
If three senators of MQM-Pakistan and five of the JUIF also support Gilani, then the tally of votes would reach 62, which suggested that the ruling coalition’s nominee would be in a comfortable position to win the slot.
Meanwhile, the coalition government approached the leadership of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Pakistan (JUI-P) to seek support for Gilani. A delegation of government comprising Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senator Dr Sherry Rehman and Syed Naveed Qamar MNA met JUIP Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri at his residence.
The JUI-P delegation also comprised Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman, Senator Kamran Murtaza, Maulana Attaul Haq Darvesh and Senator Dilawar Khan.
The JUIP spokesman said the government delegation requested the party’s support to Gilani for Senate chairman elections. It was decided that both sides would consult their leadership before announcing any decision.
