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  • Mar 2nd, 2015
  • Comments Off on Senate Election: anti-amendment bloc forms ‘coalition’
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) on Sunday made it clear that they would not support the proposed 22nd constitutional amendment. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has been making efforts towards building a consensus on a new legislation ahead of March 05 Senate elections to change the secret balloting rule with a show of hands.

But PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari played - once again - his cards quite intelligently with a view to clinching the slot of Senate chairmanship with the help of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Awami National Party (ANP).

In a meeting between Asif Ali Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman at the latter's residence on Sunday, the sources added, it was agreed the JUI-F would vote for a PPP candidate in elections for Senate chairmanship.

Talking to media persons after their luncheon, Zardari plainly stated that the three political parties - PPP, JUI-F and ANP - are on the same page and have reached an understanding on the upcoming Senate elections.

The former president also said that his party had accepted, albeit grudgingly, the 2013 general elections and would issue a 'white paper' on it anytime soon.

Zardari reiterated that the only reason behind his party's decision to stand by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif despite massive irregularities in the 2013 elections was its strong commitment to democracy.

Commenting on the meeting with Fazl, he said, "It is time of Senate elections and we also exchange views on it. We [PPP, JUI-F) needed to sit together and we're also trying to take Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on board," he added.

Zardari also dismissed rumours about differences with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, asking "what differences could be between a father and his only son". He said such rumours could be reasonable if he had three sons.

He termed his former close aide Dr Zulfiqar Mirza "another Farooq Leghari of PPP" and said he had nothing to say about the propaganda unleashed against him by "another Farooq Leghari".

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said that the 22nd constitutional amendment could not be passed in four days, adding JUI-F and ANP will contest the upcoming Senate elections as coalition partners.

Declaring PPP as a future of the country, he criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

"Those who took to the streets and quit the parliament now trying to come back to parliament," he said in an obvious reference to PTI MNAs, who are said to be contemplating withdrawing their resignations.

Maulana Fazl ruled out any major agenda of the meeting, and added that they only discussed the prevailing political situation. To a question, he said his party will remain a coalition partner of PML-N.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2015


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