News
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Sajjad’s resignation accepted; JUI, PML-N vie for support
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Acting Chairman Senate Jan Muhammad Jamali Monday accepted the resignation of Opposition Leader in Upper House of the Parliament Wasim Sajjad, paving the way for the election of new opposition leader, for which intense lobbying has already kicked off.
Opposition Leader submitted his resignation with the Chairman when his party Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) joined the PPP-led federal government at the start of this month. PML-Q being the largest opposition party in the Senate before joining the government held this office for three years. After the departure of PML-Q from the opposition benches, the JUI-F is the largest opposition group in the house.
However, despite having the biggest numerical strength in the Senate, the chances for its opposition leader appear to be minimal as PML-N is well set to grab this position after succeeding to secure the support of other parliamentary groups particularly of PML- Like-Minded, a breakaway faction of PML-Q.
Recently, PML Like-Minded threw its weight behind PML-N when it announced to support Ishaq Dar, the parliamentary leader of PML-N in Senate for the opposition leader.
Following the support from the other groups, PML-N Ishaq Dar submitted the application with the Senate for the opposition leader, which was endorsed by 25 Senators. PML-N has only seven members in the house but it has mustered the support of around 25 members belonging to PML Like-Minded, Jamaat-e-Islami, and National Party.
Being the largest opposition party in terms of strength, JUI (F) has also been able to secure the support of three members from FATA, which takes the total JUI number to 13, almost half of what PML-N has pocketed in this number game for the opposition leader election.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk