Maryam Nawaz accuses Imran Khan of colluding with Zardari for Senate chairman's election

BAHAWALPUR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz on Friday accused PTI chief Imran Khan of colluding with Asif Ali Zardari for election of Senate chairman and predicted that this “drama” too will fail like the January 17 all parties-protest, ARY News reported.

Speaking to party workers and supporters in Bahawalpur, Maryam Nawaz claimed that Imran Khan “selling people’s mandate and trust” by “handing over” his party’s senators to Balochistan Chief Minister Quddus Bizenjo for election of Senate chairman.

“Asif Zardari wasted his money to buy PTI legislators to get his men elected to Senate, this leader (Imran Khan) was himself ready to sell his senators,” said Maryam Nawaz.

She added that this “drama” too will flop like the January 17 all-parties protest to demand justice for Model Town victims “where they (the opposition leaders) spoke to empty chairs”.

“God willing, such tactics and backdoor deals will only strengthen Nawaz Sharif,” said Maryam Nawaz.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday announced that his party’s 13 senators will vote for the candidate fielded by Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo. Bizenjo also met Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Zardari and entrusted Zardari with a name worthy of the esteemed position.

The upper house will elect its chairman on March 12.

PML-N emerged as the largest party in the upper house with 33 seats after clinching 15 more in Senate elections on 52 vacant seats on March 3, and is just short of 20 votes to hit the magic figure of 53, the simple majority, in the 104-member chamber to elect its nominee as the chairman.

The PPP with its 20 seats, required another 33 members to get its nominee elected buy the party says it now has the support of required number of senators to get its nominee elected.