Opposition to announce candidate for Senate deputy chairman today

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties in the Upper House of Parliament agreed on a candidate for the office of the deputy chairman of Senate late Wednesday, but the name will be announced today.

Pakistan People Party (PPP) spokesman Farhatullah Babar told reporters that Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah will announce the name on Thursday morning.

Consensus on the name of the nominee was made at meeting of opposition parties at Zardari House late on Wednesday, ending an impasse over the candidacy after an earlier meeting of the parties at PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s residence had turned out to be inconclusive.

Babar, however, said they had intentionally decided not to disclose the name until Thursday, when newly elected Senators are scheduled to take oath and the new chairman and deputy are expected to be elected.

The meeting late Thursday was attended by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, BNP-A chief Israrullah Zehri, former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Aitzaz Ahsan, Syed Khursheed Shah, Sherry Rehman and Farhatullah Babar.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and opposition parties had earlier agreed to support Senator Raza Rabbani, the PPP’s candidate for the office of Senate chairman.

However, it was left up to the smaller parties to agree on a candidate from Balochistan for the deputy chairman slot.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chairman-designate Raza Rabbani resigned from his post as additional secretary general of the PPP.

The newly-elected senators will take oath of office Thursday morning, after which the election for the chairman and deputy chairman are expected to take place.