Opposition holds meeting to finalise strategy for voting to de-seat Senate chairman

Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani briefed all members regarding the process of voting.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Rehbar Committee of the joint opposition on Wednesday is scheduled to hold meetings in Islamabad to finalise its strategy for the no-confidence motion against Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani.

The leader of the opposition in the Senate Raja Zafar-ul-Haq and National Party’s (NP) Hasil Bizenjo, who has been nominated as the joint candidate of the opposition for the chairmanship of the upper House, addressed a luncheon hosted by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Reportedly, former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani briefed all members regarding the process of voting.

According to sources, the members were also briefed on progress in contacting senators belonging to different political parties, including coalition partners of the government.

Importantly, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will also host a dinner for opposition members tonight, and other critical political matters will be discussed, particularly for the voting in the upper House tomorrow.

PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif has held a meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Fazalur-Rehman.

The opposition took the decision to remove the chairman of the upper house at a multi-party conference on June 26. The move is meant to be the first step towards mounting pressure on the PTI-led coalition government.

Yesterday, the leader of the opposition in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq convened a meeting of members of the opposition in the upper House of the parliament.

The meeting mulled over the matter of a no-trust motion against Senate Chairman Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani.

Parliamentary leader of the Pakistan People’s Party in the Senate Sherry Rehman claimed that 53 members attended the meeting – implying that the number is sufficient to remove the Senate chairman [if they practically vote against him in the secret ballot.]

Sources told that joint opposition parties have already obtained the required majority in the Senate to de-seat the senate chairman – as in the 104-member house, from the current 103 members; the support of only 53 senators is required for the senate chairmanship.

The opposition parties collectively have the support of 65 senators, as compared to 36 senators in support of the government.

On July 9, the opposition parties in the Senate submitted a resolution for de-seating Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani by bringing a no-confidence motion against him.

The resolution signed by 38 senators has already been submitted to the secretary of the Senate. Moreover, opposition members have submitted a requisition for convening a session of the Senate.

Senate session postponed

On last Tuesday, a Senate’s session was postponed after a short resumption as demanded by the opposition.Raja Zafarul Haq stated that the voting on a no-confidence motion filed against Sanjrani would be held on August 1. He demanded delay in the proceedings of the upper House due to voting on August 1.

Sanjrani had said that no-confidence motion against the chairman Senate could not be moved in the requisition session of the Senate and it can only be held in a regular session summoned by president.

President Arif Alvi has summoned the session of the upper House on August 1 at 2pm at the Parliament House in Islamabad.