Raza Rabbani emerges opposition’s consensus candidate for Senate Chairman

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties in the Senate have decided to field Pakistan People’s Party stalwart Raza Rabbani as candidate for the slot of chairman of the upper house of the Parliament.

The Awami National Party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Pakistan Muslim League-Q agreed to support the PPP candidate during a meeting held at the Zardari House.




Sources said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman also attended the meeting of the opposition parties. Talking to Geo News, the maulana said PPP's stance over Chairman and Deputy Chairman seems apparently correct. He said the JUI-F would make its final decision after a meeting to be held Tuesday evening.

He said he was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today (Tuesday). The JUI-F Amir added situation that is emerging after the passage of 21st amendment would come under discussion during his meeting with Mr Sharif.

Speaking at a joint press conference, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said Maulana Fazlur Rehman would take a decision tomorrow (Tuesday) after consultation with his party.

“Opposition parties have unanimously nominated Raza Rabbani while we have left the slot of Senate’s Deputy Chairman for Balochistan, our friends in Balochistan will decide about the slot,” said he.

Farooq Sattar and Kamil Ali Agha represented the MQM and the Q-League respectively. Speaking to media, Sattar said that a consensus has also been hammered out over local bodies’ government that was necessary for devolution of powers to grass root level.