Rabbani no longer Zardari’s candidate?

ALI HUSSAIN & AAMIR SAEED, NAVEED BUTT

ISLAMABAD: The ruling coalition Wednesday threw its weight behind Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senator-elect Raza Rabbani for the office of chairman Senate apparently due to lack of required number for electing its own candidate; however, the offer was later plainly rejected by PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

The decision was taken in a meeting of leaders of the allied parties chaired by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which was attended by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman, National Party’s leader Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo and other senior leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

In a brief chat with reporters after the meeting, Nawaz Sharif insisted that Rabbani could be an appropriate candidate for the office of the chairman, adding that PML-N and its coalition partners are ready to support Rabbani for the office.

“He [Rabbani] has been a good chairman [Senate] and we believe he is the most suitable candidate…In case, no consensus is evolved [on Rabbani], then we would field our own candidate,” Sharif said, adding that the meeting of the allied parties deliberated upon the joint strategy to be adopted for the election of chairman and deputy chairman scheduled for March 12.

However, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari after having a meeting with JUI-F Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman categorically rejected the proposal of Rabbani’s nomination for the top Senate slot.

“Thank you very much; I don’t want it,” Zardari told reporters when his response was sought on the proposal of Nawaz Sharif that his party and the ruling coalition would support Rabbani if fielded.

Zardari who along with his close aide Qayyum Soomro arrived at the residence of Maulana Fazlur Rehman sought JUI-F’s support for the election of chairman Senate.

“I hope that the Maulana being an old friend will support our candidate,” Zardari said, adding that the Maulana has sought time to discuss it with his party colleagues.

Talking on the occasion, Rehman said that there are different proposals both from the ruling coalition and the PPP, adding that his party would meet soon and deliberate upon the proposals. “There are also some very good proposals shared by the two sides, but we will put these before our party and decide accordingly,” he added.

Earlier, talking to reporters, Mir Hasil Bizinjo claimed that the ruling coalition has gathered the support of 54 senators for electing its chairman, adding that contacts are still continuing with other political parties and independents to increase the numerical strength.

The PML-N sources said the meeting of the coalition partners also decided to continue efforts with the smaller parties as well as independents to muster up their support.

For the purpose, they said that a three-member committee comprising Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Mushahidullah Khan and Mushahid Hussain Sayed has been tasked to make contacts with Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and independent senators-elect from Balochistan.

PTI MNA Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that his party will decided whether or not to support the PPP candidate once the latter nominates a candidate for the slot.

He said the PTI will try its best to stall efforts of the PML-N to install its chairman Senate.

The PPP is eyeing up support of 12 votes of PTI, 4 of JUI-F, 12 independents [six new senators-elect from Balochistan plus a sitting independent senator from the province and five from FATA], two of Jamaat-e-Islami and one each by ANP and Balochistan National Party-Mengal, taking the number to 52. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), which has five senators in the House, is yet to explain its position. The MQM-P is in a bargaining position, as in case of voting for PPP, the PPP’s number can increase to 57. In case, the MQM-P announces its support to PML-N, it would raise the PML-N tally to 52. The newly elected senators will take oath on March 12 while chairman and deputy chairman will also be elected on the same day.