Pakistan People’s Party Co Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has categorically rejected the PML N and allied parties offer to nominate Mian Raza Rabbani name as Chairman Senate again.
Talking to media outside Moulana Fazal Rehman Residence in Minister’s Enclave, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman said he doesn’t want party leader Raza Rabbani to become Senate chairman while responding to a question regarding the offer made by Nawaz Sharif to back Rabbani for the position.
Zardari said that he has special relations with Moulana Fazal Rehman and he is hopeful that he would be responded by him positively.
Replying to a question, Zardari said that Moulana has asked for some time to finally decide.
Talking to media, JUI F Chief Moulana Fazal said that he gave Mian Raza Rabbani’s name for the next chairman senate to PPP Co Chairman.
Earlier, Former premier Nawaz Sharif said that ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would back Senator Raza Rabbani as Senate Chairman if Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) continues with the lawmaker as its candidate.
He also presided PML N and its allied meeting and decided to support Senator Raza Rabbani, if PPP decides to nominate him. The huddle gave mandate to Moulana Fazal Rehman to discuss the name with PPP Co chairman Asif Ali Zardari in their scheduled meeting.
The session, chaired by deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was also attended by Jamiat Ulema-e-Fazl Chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and Hasil Khan Bizenjo among other leaders.Meeting also decided that if PPP nominates other than Mian Raza Rabbani for the top slot in upper house than PML N and its allies will contest the election with full force.
According to the sources, Moulana Fazal Rehman Proposed the name of Mian Raza Rabbani and said that JUI F is PML N’s ally and will stay with its any decision.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif endorsed the Moulana Fazal Rehman’s advise and said that PML N wants to see a person like Mian Rabbani to be the next chairman senate.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan People’s Party seems reluctant this time to nominate Mian Raza Rabbani for the Chairman ship.Earlier, in a meeting between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Nawaz, a number of the party’s senators came under consideration for the positions of Senate chairman and deputy chairman during the meeting held at Nawaz’s Jati Umra residence.
PML-N’s allies in the Senate include JUI-F, PkMAP, NP, PML-F. Sources added the party will also approach independent candidates for their support.
The Pakhtunkhua Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) on Tuesday assured PML-N of its complete support in the upcoming Senate elections for the slot of chairman.The PKMAP announced its support for the PML-N while the National Party had also indicated to support the PML-N candidate.
On the other hand, the FATA members have demanded PPP to give deputy chairmanship of the Senate to them in return of the support of their senators in the chairman Senate election.
The meeting between the FATA members and PPP delegation ended on Tuesday afternoon and the FATA members put forward two demands for supporting PPPP candidate for Chairman Senate.The FATA members demanded that they be given the deputy chairman senate slot and also ensure promulgation of FATA Reforms Bill from the House.
The PPP delegation had asked for some time to mull over the demands.
JUI-F is in contact of both PML-N and PPP and both the contenders for Senate chairman slot are vying to get the support of the party.The PML-N is also trying to woo Jamaat-i-Islami votes and talks are underway between the top leaders of both the parties.
In the Senate polls on Saturday, PML-N-backed independent candidates emerged as the largest party in the Upper House of Parliament.
The party bagged a total of 15 Senate seats across the country, according to unofficial and unverified results, taking its total strength in the 104-member Senate to 33.
Despite the PPP’s decline in Senate to a total of 21 seats, the party is aiming to take the slots of chairman and deputy chairman with the help of allies and independents.
