With PTI MPAs out, PPP eyes another Senate seat

Karachi
The acceptance of four Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers’ resignations in Sindh on Wednesday will not only affect the opposition’s strength in the House, but also allow the Pakistan People’s Party to gain one more seat in the Senate.
Agha Siraj Durrani accepted the resignations of the four PTI MPAs just after the announcement of the Senate elections being held in March. PTI Sindh general secretary MPA Hafeezuddin told The News that the party’s lawmakers had tendered their resignations on the leadership’s advice, but the time chosen to accept them had exposed the ill-intent of the PPP.
“The PPP has damaged the unity of the opposition as it would lose a seat in the Senate in the coming elections,” he said.
However, he added that the PTI would not challenge the move in court.
Political analysts believe that the acceptance of the resignations has allowed an opportunity to the national assembly and Punjab Assembly speakers to follow suit. This will force out the PTI from the Senate elections from the Centre and Punjab too.
This will be the first Senate elections for the PTI and the party could have take one seat from Sindh and over three from Punjab.
The combined opposition of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and the PTI could have dented the PPP in the Senate elections, but now the PPP is set to fetch 10 seats.
The analysts pointed out that the PTI had defeated the MQM in three constituencies in Karachi, and the MQM would also benefit from the acceptance of the PTI MPAs’ resignations.
Insiders said the PPP was looking forward to joining hands with the MQM to have Rehman Malik elected for a Senate seat from Sindh.