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NEW DELHI: Yusuf Raza Gilani, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has been selected as the nominee for the Senate chairman position by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) under a power-sharing arrangement with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). As per a report from Geo News, the notification appointing Gilani was issued by Jamil Soomro, the political secretary to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Following the post-election agreement between PPP and PML-N, where they formed a coalition government after the February 8 general elections, key positions such as president, Senate chairman, and governorship of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were assigned to PPP, while PML-N received roles like Senate deputy chairman, National Assembly speaker, and governorship of Sindh and Balochistan.
Currently, Gilani, a seasoned leader at 71 years old and a former PM from 2008 to 2012, has garnered support from 24 senators of PPP, 19 from PML-N, four from Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), three from Awami National Party (ANP), three independents, and one from the National Party, totaling to 54 supporters.
With potential backing from three senators of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan) (MQM-P) and five from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), the ruling coalition’s support for Gilani could strengthen to 62 members, securing a comfortable position.
On the opposing side, Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has the support of 20 senators, along with one each from Balochistan National Party (BNP) and PML-Q, totaling 22. If JUI-F aligns with the opposition, their count would reach 27 members.
Notably, due to postponed elections by the Election Commission of Pakistan, eleven Senate seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are currently vacant. Gilani’s potential election as Senate chairman would mark a unique milestone as the first individual to have held the positions of National Assembly speaker, prime minister, and Senate chairman.
The Senate is scheduled to convene for its inaugural session on April 9, where newly-elected upper house members will take oath. With 96 members presently, the Senate will be short of 11 members for the session, as reported by Geo News.
In the recent National Assembly election, Gilani secured a Senate seat from Islamabad with 204 out of 301 votes, surpassing his competitor Ilyas Mehrban from Sunni Ittehad Council, who received 88 votes. Gilani had earlier won a National Assembly seat from Multan in Punjab during the February 8 general elections, subsequently vacating the seat on March 22 after taking the oath as a lower house member on February 29.
Following the post-election agreement between PPP and PML-N, where they formed a coalition government after the February 8 general elections, key positions such as president, Senate chairman, and governorship of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were assigned to PPP, while PML-N received roles like Senate deputy chairman, National Assembly speaker, and governorship of Sindh and Balochistan.
Currently, Gilani, a seasoned leader at 71 years old and a former PM from 2008 to 2012, has garnered support from 24 senators of PPP, 19 from PML-N, four from Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), three from Awami National Party (ANP), three independents, and one from the National Party, totaling to 54 supporters.
With potential backing from three senators of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan) (MQM-P) and five from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), the ruling coalition’s support for Gilani could strengthen to 62 members, securing a comfortable position.
On the opposing side, Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has the support of 20 senators, along with one each from Balochistan National Party (BNP) and PML-Q, totaling 22. If JUI-F aligns with the opposition, their count would reach 27 members.
Notably, due to postponed elections by the Election Commission of Pakistan, eleven Senate seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are currently vacant. Gilani’s potential election as Senate chairman would mark a unique milestone as the first individual to have held the positions of National Assembly speaker, prime minister, and Senate chairman.
The Senate is scheduled to convene for its inaugural session on April 9, where newly-elected upper house members will take oath. With 96 members presently, the Senate will be short of 11 members for the session, as reported by Geo News.
In the recent National Assembly election, Gilani secured a Senate seat from Islamabad with 204 out of 301 votes, surpassing his competitor Ilyas Mehrban from Sunni Ittehad Council, who received 88 votes. Gilani had earlier won a National Assembly seat from Multan in Punjab during the February 8 general elections, subsequently vacating the seat on March 22 after taking the oath as a lower house member on February 29.
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