Gillani, Sanjrani eye top slot as Senate elects chairman, deputy chairman tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The Senate will elect its chairman and deputy chairman after oath-taking of 48 newly elected members of the Upper House of Parliament in Islamabad tomorrow.

According to the senate Secretariat, the newly elected senators will take oath in a session to be convened on Friday morning.

Also Read: Senate elections showed how we are losing our moral compass: PM Imran

After the oath-taking, the session will be adjourned for submission of nomination papers for the chairman and deputy chairman slots. Later, the session will resume in the evening the same day to elect the chairman and deputy chairman of the Upper House.

The 11-party alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has nominated Senator-elect Yousuf Raza Gillani and JUI-F general secretary Ghafoor Haideri as joint candidates for the Senate chairman and deputy chairman slots, respectively.

Also Read: PTI to utilize all options to ensure Sanjrani’s victory as Senate chairman: Shibli

Whereas, the ruling PTI has fielded Sadiq Sanjrani and Mirza Muhammad Afridi for the coveted posts of Senate chairman and deputy chairman, respectively.

The opposition alliance has lead of four votes on the government and its allies in the 100-member House as the opposition has 53 senators, while the government and its allies have 47 members.

Senator Ishaq Dar won’t be able to cast his ballot due to which, the number of the opposition’s votes will be reduced to 52 while the number of the government senators has increased to 48 after independent senator Abdul Qadir joined the PTI yesterday.