Discussions in Islamabad point towards the nomination of a dark horse in the race for the Senate presidency.
- Gilani resigned from his Senate position before being sworn into NA.
- A veteran PPP politician was a strong contender for the top Senate post.
- According to rumors, the nomination of a dark horse in the race is expected.
ISLAMABAD: Since former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani took oath as a member of the National Assembly a day earlier, speculation has been rife about the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) candidate for the post of Senate President, as Curiosity has increased about who will take over. coveted legislative position, News reported on Friday.
Gilani had resigned from his Senate position before the AN's swearing-in ceremony on Thursday. The veteran PPP politician was a strong contender for the top Senate job.
PPP experts said News that only the party's co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari can answer the question about the next candidate for Senate President. But, according to rumours, discussions in Islamabad point to the appointment of a dark horse in the race.
When asked, the PPP members did not say anything about the rumours, but said that there was an agreement with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that the Senate president would be from the PPP. The party's priority, however, is the presidential elections, according to its sources, and the question of the president of the Senate will be decided later.
In parallel, PPP central electoral cell chief Senator Taj Haider wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja asking the ECP to hold elections for the eleven vacant Senate seats at the earliest. .
“We must draw your attention to the fact that 11 (eleven) seats of the Senate of Pakistan are currently vacant, thus the Senate is incomplete and the shortage of personnel is very high, almost 10%,” the letter said.
Senator Taj Haider has also stated in the letter that Article 127 of the Electoral Act deals with by-elections for vacant Senate seats, while Article 107 of the same law lays down the procedure for all Senate elections and does not allow more than one day to complete each step of the electoral calendar. Senator Haider concluded by asking the CEC to: “You are requested to order that elections be held as soon as possible for the aforementioned vacant Senate seats.”
speaking to NewsSenator Taj Haider said that as per clause 4 of Article 223, if a member is elected to another house, the first seat he occupies will become vacant.
Article 223(4) states: “Subject to clause (2), if a member of either House or of a Provincial Assembly becomes a candidate for a second seat who, in accordance with clause (1), does not can occupy simultaneously with his first position, his first position will be vacant as soon as he is elected to the second position.
Senator Taj Haider opined that under Article 223(4) of the constitution, a member had no choice in the matter as if he was elected to another house, the membership of the first chamber would automatically become vacant.
