PML-N, PPP plan to remove Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are gearing up to remove Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani through a no-trust move, ARY News reported on Sunday, citing sources.

According to sources privy to the matter, the PML-N and PPP have finalised the requisition for the removal of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and the senators of both parties have signed it.

The PML-N and the PPP have started contacting Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and others to get support.

Sources privy to the development have said that Pakistan People’s Party’s senator Yousuf Raza Gilani is a strong candidate for the next chairman.

Read more: Senate chairman rules out possibility of no-confidence motion

Earlier in 2019, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani survived a motion of no-confidence pushed by the opposition.

Mere hours before the final result, the resolution to move a no-confidence vote against Sanjrani had been passed comfortably by opposition senators, with 64 voting in its favour.

Needing only 53 of the 64 senators’ votes to send Sanjrani packing, the opposition instead fell three short when the results of the secret ballot were announced.

The final vote count was 50 votes in favour of the motion, five votes rejected, and 45 cast against.