PML-N, PPP set sights on Senate chairman’s slot

ISLAMABAD: Major political groups are fighting for each single vote in the upcoming polls for 52 seats of the Senate since the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are eying the prestigious slot of the chairman of the Upper House in the ultimate run.
The PML-N has to face a lot of trouble during its first 18 months in the present stint due to lack of majority in the Upper House and having chairman from the opposition group.
The ruling party wouldn’t like to experience nightmare of unsympathetic Senate for the rest of the period of its term. Claims to shun ‘horse-trading’ in the Senate elections by different political groups are for cosmetic consumption as no group would hesitate to ‘buy’ additional seats from any province except the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) that has to stay at a high moral ground in it.
The PML-N will field Raja Zafarul Haq while the PPP would go for Farook H Naek for the slot of the chairman of the Upper House.
Highly placed sources told The News on Saturday that both the major groups would use all the tricks they have under their sleeves to muster majority for capturing the top position of the Senate. Keeping the present division in the Senate and expected results of the polls in view, the PML-N and PPP wouldn’t be in position to have majority in the House in the wake of the upcoming polls.
They will have to rely upon other groups and their traditional allies for attaining majority in the House. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is the lone group that hasn’t sided with any of the two major groups. It will be playing deciding factor in the election of the chairman and deputy chairman if major groups stuck to their respective position, the sources said.
The major groups i.e. the PML-N and PPP in the end game could enter in bargain under the policy of ‘consensus’ politics and the top leaders of the two parties could opt to strike deal for the positions in the Senate to ward off the MQM’s role as ‘decider,’ the sources hinted.
The sources said that acceptance and rejection of the nomination papers would be contested in big way during this week and the tangle could go to the apex court as the counsels of the contestants have worked out petitions against each other’s nominations on various grounds. Rejection of nomination papers would be contested like the acceptance.
Raja Zafarul Haq, who has served as leader of the opposition in the Senate twice and leader of the House once, could prove to be the best choice for the office of chairman. Former senator and central secretary general of the PML-N Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Senator Nuzhat Sadiq have also been tipped for the top position of Senate on behalf of the ruling party but in the end Jhagra could be assigned leadership of the House while Nuzhat, who has strong support from the home of the prime minister, could be accommodated in the federal cabinet as the cabinet will see extensive reshuffle next month, the sources said. Farook Naek, who is expert in appearing in massive corruption cases as lawyer, could be contested by Rehman Malik when the chips are down and ultimate decision is made by their party.
In the meanwhile, Senate’s last session is being summoned for February 27 and the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs has consigned the summary for convening the session that would continue till March 11. The members who wouldn’t be able to return to the House would become stranger for Senate immediately upon conclusion of the session the same midnight.
The next session would be held on following day on March 12 where the oath of new members would be administered and election for the posts of chairman and deputy chairman will take place. It is likely that the new session would continue for a week, the sources added.