PPP, PTI on same page over Senate chairman from Balochistan

QUETTA: As the ruling and opposition parties are jockeying to succeed their candidates as the next chairman of Senate, PPP and PTI have announced to support the candidate fielded by Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo.

Addressing press in Quetta alongside Bizenjo on Thursday night, former president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said his party would hold consultations on the matter of electing Senate chairman from Balochistan.

Zardari said his party would propose names for the top Senate seat to the PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto. “The final decision will be made by the party chairman,” he added.

In response to a question raised by journalists whether his party was forming an alliance with rival PTI, Zardari said that the politics takes test.

Coming on outgoing Senate chairman, Zardari said Raza Rabbani during his three-year tenure as the chairman of the upper house of parliament overlooked the violation of constitution committed by the ruling party and former premier Nawaz Sharif.

“Rabbani failed to address the party reservations with regard to the 18^th amendment,” he said.

On the other hand, PTI chief Imran Khan has also announced to back the candidate from Balochistan for Senate chairman.

In a press conference in Islamabad with the Balochistan CM on Thursday again, Khan said all of the PTI’s 13 senators will vote for the Balochistan candidate in elections for Senate chairman.

The PTI chief said a PML-N backed Senate chairman wouldn’t take up the reservations of the entire house, as what he said, the parliament and Punjab assembly have been amending the bills at the whims of Sharif.