The Quest For The Senate Chairman

Elections in Pakistan  have  always  witnessed  a question mark due to horse trading ,rigging  , bartering  and  bidding. The  recent  Senate Elections 2018  were  no Exception as  The Senate  Elections  were   held  in sheer  contradiction where  many Mainstream  Political parties such as PTI, MQM   cried  Foul play  and  horse trading  in the  Elections especially the  PPP’s grabbing of  Two  Senate Seats  from  KPK  on the  basis  of  6 MPAs  was  beyond  Understanding and  opened the Pandora box  as  how a  Party having  only  6 MPAs   could  manage to win  two seats  from KPK  .On the Other hand, MQM-P  due to infighting, lost the seats and managed to grab a single seat from Sindh while PML-N swept all the seats from Punjab and Islamabad.

If we go through the current Senate party-wise position, PML-N Leads the House with 34 Senate Seats as one independent candidate announced to join PML-N, followed by PPP  and  PTI  having  20 and  12 Seats each.  However, Ten Independent candidates from FATA may play the deciding role for The election of  Senate  Chairman as   PML-N needs 19 More Seats to get his  Nominee elected out of  104 seat Upper House.

The PPP and PTI contacts are also reported as both partied contacted the CM  Baluchistan for Alliance. The PTI demands Deputy chairman whereas chairman slot is offered to PPP Nominee. But the recent party meet up withdraws  the decision as  they were of  the view  that  having alliance  with either  PPP or  PML-N  would pour water on their long struggle  against  Corruption and  corrupt politicians  as  Chairman PTI  believed  that  having alliance  with PPP may benefit  PML-N and other opposition parties  including  JUI-F who are the strong  critics of  both parties  .

They may launch a public campaign against the party’s vision that those who used to call  Zardari  (Bemari)  The Disease for Sindh now sitting in their ranks and made an alliance with the corrupt party in quest of Power.Suppose  ,  If they make an alliance, they will have  32 seats, they will still require 21 seats to get the Slot of  Senate Chairman. Zardari is eying 15 Independent candidates of  FATA and Baluchistan, National Party of Baluchistan’s 5 seats, MQM’s  5 Seats, PML-F 1 seat, JI 2 Seats etc.  If zardari succeeds in getting the small parties on board then it will give tough time to PML-N. JUI-F has announced to back PMl-N Nominee whereas JI may support  PTI  as both parties are running a coalition Govt in KP.

PPP has enjoyed the coalition with  MQM-P past though this political bonhomie did not last longer owing to the greed of power and resources on the part of  MQM and contradictory Separate Province Demands and tirade against Pakistan by self-exiled MQM –london chief  Altaf Hussain.

As regards The  Senate Elections, they are also reported to be rigged since Billions of Rupees were used to influence and change the loyalties of  MNAs and MPAs. Though the ECP  has taken the   Notice of such gross irregularities,  yet No action may likely be taken owing expiry of the  Government Term in May 2018.

PML-N may win Chairman Senate  Seat Either from its allies or  PML-N owing to the consensus on Nominee, while  PPP claims to have 60 Seats including FATA senators. But  PML-N has not reached the decision of Final Candidate.  In this situation, all the parties appear to be divided struggling to find the suitable candidate after refusal and Rejection over the name of   Existing  Senate Chairman, Senator Raza Rabbani by Zardari  Though the recommendation card was played by  PML-N former chief  Mian Nawaz Shareef. Shareefs are in disarray after disqualification as  PM and  Party chief altogether.

They have already started anti-Judiciary, NAB and Armed forces agitation campaign are not in the good books of  Establishment as well. However, as they enjoy the majority in the upper House, they face less resistance or effort to get their nominee elected.

So far, the PML-N leadership has not been able to finalize their Nominee for  Senate Chairman and Deputy Chairman Slots as they are still doing consultation with key allies such as National Party of  Baluchistan NP, JUI-F and Others.

PTI and PPP, on the other hand, are also seen busy to form an alliance to get the Slots. PPP’s Co-chairman Former President, Asif Ali Zardari is alleged to have bought the MPAs and MNAs and this purchase process is said to be continued as  Senators are being offered millions as per News reports to Support their nominee for  Chairman slot.

PPP appears to be the only party that is in close contact with the independent candidates and had negotiations with various  Main Stream and Small parties Sindh, KP, Baluchistan to reach on an agreement for winning support from the allies for their  PPP nominee likely Salim Mandiwala etc.

On the other hand, PTI is vying for  Deputy chairman slot as they enjoy the third position in Upper House. Both PTI- PPP  may reach on consensus candidate  Sadiq Sanjrani as both parties have consensus over  Sadiq Sanjrani   He is emerging as the favourite candidate for the opposition in Upper House.Therefore, PTI finally nods to support PPP candidate after having internal party discussions and  Demand the  Deputy  Chairman Slot.

The Ball is in the PML-N’s court as they have the majority and only require  18 seats to win the chairman Slot.With JUI –F support and eying independent senators they may still be able to win The Chairman Senate seat but this prediction may be bit early as anything happens at any time. Maybe, The  PPP succeeds in making allies and winning support as Zardari is very clever in making surprises or stunning the opposition.

Zardari is also considered the king of changing the game as he did in Baluchistan by toppling the  Zahri  Govt and bringing in New set up in Baluchistan.PTI will support PPP Nominee as both parties are against the  PML-N Government.  The Political Pundits say that if Zardari’s Candidate wins that will be the great set back or Blow for PML-N.

The Election  for the appointment  of  Chairman and Deputy Chairman Senate is scheduled  Today ,so let’s see  who  wins  the  Elections of  Upper House Head and Deputy Head  -be it  PML-N  or  PPP-PTI  allies  . But  Zardari has shown disappointment over  the proposed name of  Sadiq Sanjrani  for  Chairman Slot during the  Meeting  of  CM Baluchistan  Abdul Qayoom Bizenjo and  PTI Chief  Imran Khan .