Raja Zafarul Haq convenes opposition's meeting over no-trust move against Senate chairman
Reportedly, the meeting mulled over the matter of a no-trust motion against Senate Chairman Sanjrani
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The leader of the opposition in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq on Tuesday has convened a meeting of members of the opposition in the upper House of the parliament in Islamabad.
Reportedly, the meeting mulled over the matter of a no-trust motion against Senate Chairman Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani.
Parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party in the Senate Sherry Rehman has claimed that 53 members have 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.
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.
Importantly, the opposition has nominated National Party’s (NP) Hasil Bizenjo as its joint candidate for the chairmanship of the Senate.
Senate session postponed
On last Tuesday, a Senate’s session was postponed after a short resumption as demanded by the opposition.
Meanwhile, 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.
