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Friday March 29, 2024

Senate opposition leader: PPP should withdraw nomination: PTI

By Mumtaz Alvi & Asim Yasin
March 18, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) senior leaders insisted that the post of Leader of Opposition in the Senate was their right and all parties should be on one page thereon and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) should withdraw the nomination for the slot.

PTI Senator Muhammad Azam Swati and party’s Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry told a media conference here that the party had nominated Swati for the slot of Leader of Opposition and all eyes were fixed on Fata Senators and hopefully they would take a correct decision in this context.

They termed submission made by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman to Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani as illegal and maintained that six independent Senators of Fata had yet to decide on their political affiliations.

“Cases against Sharifs in the accountability court are in final phase and their conviction seems evident. Nawaz Sharif has hidden his sons in London and bringing Maryam Nawaz in proceedings to play women card later,” they alleged.

Swati contended that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf reserved the right to nominate its candidate for Opposition Leader in the Upper House of Parliament”. He added that election of Chairman Senate from Balochistan was PTI’s moral victory.

Senator Swati criticised application by Sherry Rehman to Chairman Senate and alleged that it was the second version of notorious Calibri Font. He maintained that independent Senators of Fata had yet to decide about their affiliation.

He pointed out that the independent Senators received a notification from the Senate Secretariat only on Friday in which they had been directed to inform the Secretariat if they would be sitting on treasury or opposition benches. Swat explained referring to the notification that “Senators are directed to clarify their status till March 22”. He added that rules provided that submission of nomination papers exercise would be initiated once the Senators’ position was clear.

PTI nominee contended that the signatures on the nomination papers of Sherry Rehman had no legal value.

Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhary lashed out at Punjab government stating that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had spent dollars 900 million on education and health in Punjab, yet the situation of both sectors was miserable.

“It’s because the money is spent on advertisements, not on the people, otherwise the situation would have been different. The decision to change the uniform of Punjab police is incomprehensible as Rs24 million were allotted for this and now it’s decided to go back to the previous uniform,” he claimed.

He slammed Shahbaz Sharif for the ‘sasti roti scheme’ and alleged Rs40 billion were spent on and there was no audit and same was the case with Ashyana Scheme. “The arrest of Ahad Cheema is another story of corruption. Millions of rupees were wasted on Danish Schools and Yellow Cab, and none of the schemes have been investigated,” PTI leader lamented.

Commenting on cases against Sharifs in the accountability court, Fawad stated that the cases against Sharifs were in last phase, the family had admitted to own property in London, Hassan Nawaz has admitted to have owning 16 companies in which Rs300 billion were transferred.

“There conviction is evident and Sharif family is aware of the fact and Nawaz Sharif has hidden his sons in London and is bringing along Maryam Nawaz in proceedings to play the woman card and victim card later on,” he charged.

Regarding caretaker setup for the upcoming elections, he said that PPP has asked PTI’s suggestion and we will actively participate in the process. “We have to suggest names for caretaker chief ministers of Punjab and KP”, he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) rejected claims of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) position on claiming the slot of Opposition Leader in the Senate.

The PPP maintained that it demonstrated its majority of 33 senators for the office of opposition leader in the Upper House of Parliament under rule 16 of the rules and procedure and conduct of the Senate.

The PPP advised the PTI that it should read and study how an Opposition Leader in the Senate is elected. “Senate Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business 2012” for appointment of Leader of the Opposition clearly states that the chairman will declare an opposition leader who enjoys the support of the majority in the opposition, submitted in writing under their signatures. “Why is a problem being created then,” the PPP leaders said.

According to PPP sources, all 33 Senators’ support signatures to PPP are legitimate; it is not PPP which is splitting the opposition. PPP senior leader was of the opinion that PPP is the biggest opposition party in the Senate. “We have never divided the opposition,” senior PPP leader said.

The Senate Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business 2012” for appointment of Leader of the Opposition clearly state that the chairman will declare an opposition leader who enjoys support of the majority in the opposition, submitted in writing under their signatures.

Commenting on press conference of Azam Swati, the PPP said that Azam Swati’s comments are baseless. However, according to Senate’s rule it is Senate Chairman’s job to declare the opposition leader after examining the nomination/signatures of the supporting Senators. PTI should do less talking and wait for the result. The Rule 16 of the Senate Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business 2012 read as, “After the election of Chairman and Deputy Chairman under Article 60 of the Constitution and at any time thereafter the Chairman shall declare Leader of the Opposition within fifteen days”.