The ruling alliance also lost the slot of deputy chairman as its candidate Usman Khan Kakar bagged 44 votes, while the opposition-backed nominee Saleem Mandviwalla of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) received 54 votes. The five senators of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) abstained from the vote in the deputy chairman's election, as it had already announced that it would not vote for the PPP candidate because of alleged horse-trading by PPP in Sindh provincial assembly which resulted in the defeat of its three candidates in the Senate election cost it (MQM-P) three senators.
The polling for election of chairman and deputy chairman took place inside the Senate hall, which was presided over by Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasir who announced the results after all senators cast their votes. Sanjrani from Balochistan was supported by the joint opposition - PPP, MQM-P, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and independents from Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Presiding Officer Yaqoob Nasir administered oath to Sanjrani who immediately took the seat and presided over the vote session for the election of deputy chairman. He then administered oath to his deputy Saleem Mandviwalla after he emerged victorious by defeating his rival Usman Kakar with a margin of 10 votes.
Earlier in the morning, 51 newly-elected Senators except Senator-elect Ishaq Dar of PML-N as he is in London after a local court declared him absconder for his inability to appear before an accountability court in a graft case took oath.
The most interesting part of Monday's Senate session was oath taking of Krishna Kumari Kolhi, Pakistan's first-ever Hindu Dalit woman Senator. Her arrival was a spectacle as she reached the Parliament House with her family in traditional Thari dress.
She told the media persons that she would work towards improving healthcare and water situation in her area. She added that she would also make efforts towards resolving problems being faced by the women of Tharparkar. Taking the floor after the deputy chairman took oath of his office, Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo of National Party said that with the election of new Senate chairman, the Parliament had lost to "autocratic powers."
"Today I feel ashamed to be a member of this House ...Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto could have won if Raza Rabbani had been elected the chairman of this House," said a perturbed Baloch senator in response to 'Jeay Bhutto' slogans in the galleries. "Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assemblies were turned into mandis [marketplaces] and the face of this prestigious house was 'blackened'...the hidden powers won over Parliament and sent out a clear message that they can turn the Parliament into a market anytime," he said.
Bizenjo's hard-hitting speech was interrupted by PPP senators while newly-elected Senate Chairman Sanjrani asked him to conclude his speech by congratulating his newly-elected fellow senators. The nationalist Baloch lamented that after destroying the edifice of parliament, it is being claimed that it was all done for Balochistan and to lessen the sufferings of Baloch people.
"Is this what you've done for Balochistan? You did the same with the KPK...I would like to appeal the hidden powers not to play such games with the fate of this country, and let it be run," he added. Former Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani said he would continue to fight for supremacy of the Parliament on the floor as well as outside the Parliament if needed.
He expressed hope that his successor will continue the fight for supremacy of the Parliament and rule of law, as he had taken over at very critical juncture, adding, "A clear message should be sent out that we will continue fighting for supremacy of the Parliament whether on this floor or in jail."
Congratulating Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla and Sanjrani on their election, Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq said the Senate polls are a step towards promoting democracy because people feared the election would not take place at all. "Who gave you vote or who didn't [does not matter now, as] democracy demands accepting defeat and others' victory even if it is by one vote," he added.
Reuters adds: PML-N leaders, who allege elements of the military are trying to weaken their party, accuse Sanjrani of being a "pro-establishment" candidate. Sanjrani denies being a military stooge and the army has rejected claims of meddling. Sanjrani won 57 votes in the 104-seat chamber to beat PML-N candidate Raja Zafarul's 46, according to presiding officer Sardar Yaqoob Nasir.
"The face of this house is blackened today," said Mir Hasil Bizenjo, a government minister and ally of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. "I appeal to the institutions, I appeal to the political parties that for God's sake let this country take its right course. Let this country take its democratic path," Bizenjo told the Senate.
PML-N displaced the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) as the single biggest one in the upper house in elections on March 3. But the secret ballot of members of the four provincial assemblies and the federal parliament was marred by allegations of horse trading and seat buying. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party which joined the PPP in backing the new Senate chief, has also rejected claims of military involvement, with party leader Imran Khan tweeting that Sanjrani's election would "strengthen the federation".
"We are happy for the people of Balochistan & for the federation of Pakistan," Khan tweeted. In a lighter moment, all senators clapped and banged tables in appreciation when a new member, from a marginalised Hindu caste, entered the chamber. Krishna Kumari's election was seen as a breakthrough for her Dalit community, who are the lowest rung on the caste ladder and are often referred to as the "Untouchables".