Senate elections: Profiles of candidates who vied for top slots

Opposition candidates Sadiq Sanjrani, Saleem Mandviwalla won Senate top slots today

QUETTA: While the Senate elections have come to a conclusion, The Express Tribune has prepared a profile of the candidates who vied for the top slots.

Raja Zafarul Haq

Haq is one of the most prominent leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He has been serving as a senator since March 2009. Haq enjoyed a successful diplomatic career before entering national politics.

He was appointed religious affairs minister in 1997 and played a pivotal role in formulating policy over his tenure. Haq was appointed as the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Rawalpindi general secretary in 1963 before being named district president in 1971. He continued in the position till 1981. Haq was also nominated as a member of central working committee (CWC) of the party in 1973. He was later elected president of the Rawalpindi Bar 1977–78, and vice-president of the High Court Bar Association in 1981.

In 1996, he was appointed central vice-president of the PML. He was elected Senate opposition leader in May 1994 – 1996 before being named leader of the house in 1997. In 2009, Haq was elected to the Senate from Lahore.

He is the current PML-N chairman and leader of the house in Senate. A party stalwart, Haq’s repeated nomination for top party positions is a testament to his stature among party rank and file.

Sadiq Sanjrani

Sadiq Sanjrani from Chaghi in Balochistan was nominated by Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bijenzo for the Senate top slot. His candidature was backed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Born on April 14, 1978 in Balochistan's Nok Kundi town, Sanjrani obtained his early education from Chaghi and later received a bachelor's degree from the University of Balochistan. Over his career, Sanjrani has served many positions including coordinator complaint cell of Prime Minister’s Secretariat and member of observatory commission of prime minister in 2009 and was appointed as chief coordinator of PM complaint cell and adviser in 2009.

Sanjrani has also served as the director of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited and the Export Processing Zone Authority. A noted business figure, he is the Sanjrani Mining Company CEO and a director of the National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company.
Sanjrani was elected as senator on March 3, 2009. He came into the limelight after being nominated for the Senate top slot. The PPP, PTI and the Balochistan CM reached a consensus on this account after rounds of talks.

Saleem Mandviwalla

Born on January 25, 1959, Mandviwalla graduated from Fort Worth School of Aviation in 1981. He has served as president of the Board of Investment and minister of state for investment.

He held the portfolio from October 2008 till May 2013. Prior to his appointment as minister, he was the president of the Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was appointed finance minister on February 19, 2013.

Mandviwalla was unanimously elected Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization chairman. He hails from a well-known business family. Their business interests encompass real estate, manufacturing, media and automotive sectors.

The PTI had not objected to his candidature after being wooed by the PPP.

Usman Kakar

Born in 1961 in Muslim Bagh, Usman Kakar obtained a degree in law in 1987 from Balochistan University and joined the Pashtun Student Organisation as unit secretary. He joined the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party in 1996 and now serves as the party provincial president.