ISLAMABAD: After the election of Senate chairman and deputy chairman, the opposition parties, mainly Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), have started lobbying to secure the support of maximum number of senators for the position of leader of the opposition in the Upper House.
At a party meeting convened on Wednesday by Bilawal Bhutto, the PPP announced to nominate Senator Sherry Rehman for the post. “#PPP ready to make history again. We nominate Senator @sherryrehman for the position of Leader of Opposition. Insha Allah she will be the first woman to lead the opposition in the Senate. Pakistan People’s Party; #WeMakeHistory,” wrote Bilawal Bhutto on his Twitter account after the meeting.
If elected, she would be the first woman leader of the opposition in the Senate. If so, she will replace senior party leader Aitzaz Ahsan, who recently retired from the Senate.
A PPP delegation comprising newly elected Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Khursheed Shah, Sherry Rehman and others, meanwhile, met senators from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to seek their support for the party nominee for the opposition leader slot. The delegation thanked FATA members for their role in the victory of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala and sought their support for the party’s candidate for the opposition leader slot.
Sources said FATA’s eight senators have pledged their support for Rehman and have signed the requisition papers in her support.
PPP, which has 20 seats in the Senate, will need the support of other opposition parties to have Sherry Rehman appointed.
Khursheed Shah, meanwhile, met Sadiq Sanjrani to congratulate him on his election as chairman of the Upper House and seek their support for the position of opposition leader in Senate. The newly elected chairman urged Shah to pray for his success as the post was a huge responsibility for him.
The PTI, which supported Sanjrani and Mandviwala, has reportedly decided not to back Sherry Rehman and put forward its own candidate for the post, sources told Daily Times. The PTI is trying to field Senator Azam Swati for the position, the sources added.
Shahrbano Rehman, better known as Sherry Rehman, was born on December 21, 1960, in Karachi. She got her education at Smith College and later at the University of Sussex where she studied art, history and political science.
Rehman has served as an MNA and federal minister for various departments including health, women development and information. She has also served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States in PPP-led government’s recent term.
The Senate elects the chairman, deputy chairman, leader of the house and leader of the opposition every three years after elections for half of its members are held. While the chairman and deputy chairman have already been elected, elections for the leader of the house and the opposition are yet to take place.
The leader of the opposition is chosen by a majority vote from among the members of the opposition.
@BBhuttoZardari
#PPP ready to make history again. We nominate Senator @sherryrehman for the position of Leader of Opposition. Insh Allah she will be the first woman to lead the opposition in the senate. Pakistan People’s Party; #WeMakeHistory
@SenatorSherryRehman
Thank you #PPP Chairman @BBhuttoZardari, Pres Zardari for nominating me to this post in Pakistan’s senate. Have a challenging act to follow after the brilliant Aitzaz Ahsan and appreciate the confidence reposed in me by my party leadership and colleagues in opposition.
Published in Daily Times, March 15th 2018.
