ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) announced on Thursday that former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani is their nominee for the position of Senate chairman.
Jamil Soomro, the political secretary to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, issued a notification confirming this decision.
According to an agreement between PPP and PML-N, PPP secured the positions of president, Senate chairman, and governorship of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while PML-N gained the positions of Senate deputy chairman, National Assembly speaker, and governorship of Sindh and Balochistan.
Currently, Gilani has the support of 24 senators from PPP, 19 from PML-N, four from BAP, three from ANP, three independents, and one from the National Party, totaling 54.
With an additional support of three senators from MQM-P and five from JUI-F, the tally would reach 62, ensuring the ruling coalition’s nominee a comfortable victory.
On the contrary, PTI counts on 20 senators, along with one each from BNP and PML-Q, totaling 22. If JUI-F aligns with the opposition, their count would rise to 27.
Notably, the Senate election for 11 seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been postponed by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
If Gilani secures the Senate chairman position, he will make history by serving as the National Assembly speaker, prime minister, and Senate chairman.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
