Sharif, Fazl propose, Zardari opposes Rabbani’s nomination as Senate chairman

In a shocking development, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has rejected the idea of reinstating Mian Raza Rabbani as the Senate chairman as reportedly proposed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif among others.

Addressing a joint press conference with chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad, Zardari said, “I don’t want that to happen” when asked if he would agree to Sharif’s suggestion on Rabbani, Express News reported.

He said he had sought some time for consultations within the party to come to a decision on the matter and expressed hope that the JUI-F chief would back his party’s candidate ‘like always’.


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Speaking on the occasion, Rehman said he was considering recommendations put forward by the PPP and the ruling PML-N, adding that a meeting of the party’s executive committee would also be held in this regard.

Sources told Express News that Maulana Fazl had recommended the names of Rabbani and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri for the posts of Senate chairman and vice-chairman respectively during today’s meeting with Zardari.

Earlier today, deposed prime minister Sharif also discussed the issue of Senate chairmanship with the JUI-F chief, Mir Hasil Bizenjo and Mehmood Khan Achakzai in a joint meeting of the heads of PML-N and coalition parties.