Summary Leaders weigh options as independent candidates assume decisive significance for Chairman Senate.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – With the leadership of the Senate as the next political target, leaders weigh their options as independent candidates assume decisive significance.
After the recent Senate elections, political leaders have established contacts with independent candidates to claim Chairman and Deputy Chairman posts. Currently, following the election, the overall strength shows 33 PML-N-backed candidates, 20 PPP candidates, 15 independent candidates, 12 PTI candidates, five candidates of MQM, PkMAP and NP each, four candidates of JUI-F, two candidates of JI, and one candidate from each of the PML-F, ANP and Balochistan National Party-Mengal in the house of 104 members. 53 votes are needed for Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
In this regard, Nawaz Sharif headed PML-N meeting in which independent senator from FATA Mirza Afridi joined PML-N. PML-N leaders also reached out to PkMAP, NP and JUI. PML-N is trying to secure the support of 7 senators from Balochistan, with 6 belonging to its allies and one independent.
PPP also seems to be in action as it offers the post of Deputy Chairman to senators from Balochistan. Asif Zardari and Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman are also expected to meet in the evening today.
The third biggest contender is PTI which has decided to knock the door of small groups first. According to PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Khan will begin consultations upon return from Karachi.
The Senate — the Upper House of parliament — is a body of 104 lawmakers. Each senator serves a term of six years, barring resignation, disqualification, or other extraordinary circumstances. They are not all elected at the same time: rather, half are elected in one election, and the other half three years later.
