PDM nominates Yousaf Raza Gilani as joint candidate for Senate chairmanship

The JUI-F chief said steering committee will decide on nomination of deputy chairman senate

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Monday nominated newly elected Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Senator Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani as joint candidate in the forthcoming Senate chairman election.

PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced Gilani’s candidature for the Senate chairman election after a meeting in Islamabad attended by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and others members of the alliance.

The PML-N supremo and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari addressed the gathering via video link.

The JUI-F chief said that the decision regarding the nomination of deputy chairman Senate and leader of opposition will be taken by the Steering Committee. “The government has challenged Gilani s win, adding that what was the need for the cote of confidence his election was wrong.

He said that a committee has been formed for the decision regarding the nomination of deputy chairman senate and leader of opposition, adding that there was no disagreement in the PDM regarding the name of the deputy chairman and the issue would be resolved in tomorrow’s meeting of the Steering Committee with PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in chair. Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Jahanzeb Jamaluddin, Akram Khan Durrani, Pervez Ashraf, Hafiz Abdul Karim will participate in the committee while one member from each party of the opposition alliance will participate in the steering committee meeting.

Regarding attack on PML-N leaders outside the parliament, he said that the goons of the PTI attacked PML-N outside the Parliament House and also abused Maryam Aurangzeb.

Fazl went on to say that the incident of abuse shows the confusion of the government, adding that the PTI goons insulted political leaders. This incident is despicable and reprehensible.

Meanwhile, sources said that the matters regarding anti-government movement of the 11-party opposition alliance and in-house change in Punjab were also reviewed in the huddle.

Sources said that the recommendations of the PDM’s committee have also been presented in the meeting. According to the recommendations, the long march will start from Karachi on March 26 with a public gathering.

All the processions will reach Islamabad by 3 pm on March 30.

According to the recommendations, all parties should be mobilized to bring in as many people as possible. A central camp will be set up in Faizabad to welcome the participants. Camps will be set up at Rawat Chowk, Chungi No 26, Bara Kahu and other important places. The parties will organize their processions separately.

The recommendations further stated that, all parties will bear their own expenses. The senior leadership of PDM should immediately visit all the four provinces. A joint poem should be prepared to mobilize the people for the long march. Committees should be formed immediately. The various committees include Control Room, Media and Advertising Committee, Reception Committee.

According to the recommendations of the committee, the formation of security committee, facilities committee, legal committee, finance committee, program committee, food committee and medical committee are included.

Arrangements should be made before the participants arrive at the site of the sit-in. The sit-in will continue till the objective is achieved. Traders, farmers and trade unions should be contacted and fully mobilized.