Senate chairman’s post PPP likely to pitch Naek again

LAHORE: The PPP, which still possesses the largest number of seats in the Upper House of Parliament, is likely to pitch Farooq H Naek for the slot of Senate chairman.
Despite facing a whitewash in the Punjab, the PPP holds the top position in the Senate with 26 seats followed by PML-N with 24 and MQM with eight. Although, the names of Raza Rabbani as well Taj Haider are also circulating in the party circles, sources say PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari wants Naek to be pitched for the top slot.
Naek has previously too served as the chairman Senate and was replaced by Nayyer Hussain Bokhari. Till the filing of the report, the sitting members of Senate were 88 out of total 104. Polls for the four seats of Fata couldn’t take place on Thursday whereas the counting process was in progress in KP to delayed polling.
A tough contest is expected between the PPP and PML-N for the slot, as the number game still favour the former which till to date also enjoys the support of MQM, ANP and even JUI-F whose chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also had a detailed meeting with Zardari, just a few days before the Senate polls.
Sources say the PPP believes that the number of ‘definite votes’ it is expected get for the slot of chairman is 44 which includes 26 of PPP, eight from MQM, six from ANP and four from PML-Q. Yousaf Badeni, an independent senator elected from Balochistan, is also likely to support the PPP.
The PTI, which is likely to have a representation with four or five senators also hold the key but the PPP thinks that it will not poll votes either in favour of the PML-N or the PPP, thus leaving the latter as ultimate beneficiary.
Although the polls of Senate chairman will not be conducted unless four senators are elected from Fata, the government move to restrict the MPs from the tribal areas in the voting process is also expected to give create resentment against the ruling party, at a time when every vote is of great significance.