Unopposed Gilani, Syedaal Nasar clinch Senate’s top slots

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Vice Chairman Central Executive Committee Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday was elected unopposed as the Senate chairman after no other nomination papers were filed by the opposition to challenge his candidature.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PMLN) Syedaal Khan Nasar was also elected unopposed on the seat of the Senate’s deputy chairman. Both were the joint candidates of the ruling alliance.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had boycotted Tuesday’s elections, terming them unconstitutional. A day earlier, the PTI core committee decided to boycott the elections, reiterating the demand that the elections should be postponed till the senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were elected.

Senator Ishaq Dar, who was the presiding officer, announced Senator Yusuf Raza Gilani as the Senate chairman amid ruckus from the galleries. Gilani was ushered by the presiding officer to the dais to take oath, the official news agency reported.

After assuming his charge, Gilani made his maiden remarks to the House and wished Eid greetings to the senators. He expressed his gratitude to Allah Almighty for conferring him with the honour and also to his party and alliance parties of PMLN, MQMP, BNP, NP, PMLQ, JUIF and independent candidates who reposed their trust in him.

“This is indeed an honour and enormous responsibility to lead the Senate that represents unity and diversity of the nation and symbolises equality,” he added.

“We will succeed in returning the Senate to its glory as a powerful house of the federation. I will not compromise on the dignity of this house and its members,” he said.

He later announced the candidature of deputy chairman Senate, stating, “The nomination of Senator Syedaal Khan Nasar has been received that was proposed by Senators Azam Nazeer Tarar and Sherry Rehman and his nomination papers were in order and since one nomination was received so Syedaal Nasar is declared unopposed deputy chairman Senate.”

He ushered him to the dais to take oath as the Senate’s deputy chairman.

The chair announced the ruling for independent members to join either treasury or opposition within seven days — from April 8 to 15 — and give their application in writing to the secretary Senate.

However, an independent member who does not give his/her trust would be barred from supporting any opposition legislative decision.

He prorogued the session while reading the order sent by President Asif Ali Zardari.

A prayer for the security forces’ martyrs of various terrorist attacks was offered that was led by Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman.

Presiding Officer Ishaq Dar extended his felicitations on behalf of the House to the Senate chairman. He also assured the chair of his full support and trust in all the legislative endeavours.

Maulana Attaur Rehman extended his felicitations to the newly elected chair and urged him to give attention to the matter pertaining to no election of senate seats in KP.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Syedaal Khan Nasar on their election as the Senate’s chairman and deputy chairman, respectively.

Expressing good wishes to them, the prime minister said their election manifested the continuation of the democratic process in the country.

He expressed the hope that both the newly-elected chairman and deputy chairman would play their role for the supremacy of the constitution and the national development as well as in the legislation aimed at public welfare.

The role of the Senate is key to strengthening of the federating units and the democratic values, he remarked.