News Desk |
On Tuesday, opposition parties in the Senate submitted a no-confidence resolution against incumbent Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, alongside a requisition to convene a session of the Upper House.
The resolution ushered forward a meeting of the members of the opposition parties in the chamber of Leader of the Senate Opposition Raja Zafarul Haq. The meeting was chaired by Senate Opposition leader Raja Zafarul Haq, and attended by senators Sherry Rehman, Pervez Rashid, Sassui Palijo, Mushahidullah Khan, Usman Kakar, Ashok Kumar, and others.
#BakhabarNews Opposition senators meet to sign resolution for de-seating senate chairman – https://t.co/Lx1ftyMz5u pic.twitter.com/oX4bZbxh8r
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The resolution demands the removal of Senate Chairman Sajid Sanjrani as per Rule 12; removal of the Chairman or Deputy Chairman, of the Rules of Procedure in the Conduct of Business in the State. This resolution was drafted by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman and PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi, which was signed by the members of the opposition.
The joint-opposition parties are expected to announce the name of their candidate for the Senate Chairman during the next meeting of the anti-government Rahbar Committee.
Another resolution has been submitted requesting a session of the Upper House in order to move the resolution in the Senate.
New Senate Chairman from PML-N?
Jamaat-i-Islami leaders refrained from attending the meeting. However, the anti-government 11-member Rahbar Committee conjured by the opposition has announced a consensus on the removal of Senate Chairman Sanjrani. This resolution was signed by 44 senators.
Addressing the meeting, Senator Sherry Rehman briefed the opposition members about the rules and regulations regarding the removal of the Senate chairman.
On 11th July, the Rahbar Committee will be holding another session, during which the committee is likely to announce the name of a joint-opposition candidate to assume the position of the Senate chairman.
Read more: Who will be the new Chairman Senate?
This recently formed committee consists of nine opposition parties, and its first meeting was held in Islamabad. During this meeting, the members of the opposition vowed to confidentiality, took an oath to devise policies to dismantle the government with an anti-government movement.
The Rahbar Committee has also approved the selection of a new Senate Chairman from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, since the PML-N has a majority in the Senate. PML-N is considering to appoint Raja Zafarul Haq and Musadik Malik, alongside two other names that have not yet been floated on the media.
The joint-opposition parties are expected to announce the name of their candidate for the Senate Chairman during the next meeting of the anti-government Rahbar Committee, scheduled for 11th July.
The no-confidence motion has been submitted in the Senate, and has been signed by around one-fourth of the majority of senators in the House.
On 26th June, a joint-opposition conference decided upon the removal of the Upper House Chairman. This decision was considered as the first step towards agitation and exerting pressure upon the Imran Khan-led coalition government.
The joint opposition parties have the majority in the Senate required to dethrone the Senate Chairman, considering 104-member house requires the support of only 53 senators to appoint a new Senate Chairman and dismiss Sadiq Sanjrani.
In terms of numbers, the Pakistan Peoples’ Party has 20 senators, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has 28 senators, National Party has five, Pakhtunkhwa MAPK has two, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl has four and the Awami National Party has one senator.
Read more: Why does opposition want to remove Chairman Senate?
As per the rules and regulations, the no-confidence motion has been submitted in the Senate, and has been signed by around one-fourth of the majority of senators in the House.