PPP's Gillani secures Senate chairman slot uncontested

PPP's Yousuf Raza Gilani was elected unopposed to the coveted slot of Senate chairman on Tuesday after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) boycotted the elections for top positions.

PML-N's Sardar Syedal Khan Nasir was elected the deputy chairman. Earlier today, newly-elected members of the Senate were sworn in and took oath of office.

As the session commenced, Senate Secretary Qasim Samad Khan announced that the newly elected senators would take oath and then the session would resume to elect the chairman and deputy chairman of the upper house.

Senator Ishaq Dar acted as the presiding officer during the first session.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated and conveyed his best wishes to the newly sworn-in chairman of the Senate
Yousaf Raza Gilani and Deputy Chairman Sardar Syedal Khan Nasir.

The PM noted that elections of the Senate chairman and deputy chairman are a continuation of the democratic process.

“It is hoped that you will play your role for the upliftment of the Constitution and the development of the country,” PM Shehbaz added.

The PM also expressed hope for the active participation of the newly elected chairman and deputy chairman in crafting impactful legislation to promote public welfare and foster national progress and prosperity.

He also emphasized the significance of the Senate in bolstering federal units and upholding democratic principles.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Yousuf Raza Gilani was expected to ascend to the coveted Senate chairman position unopposed, thanks to a power-sharing deal with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as the upper house holds its first meeting today.

With PTI's boycott, Gilani, the joint candidate of the ruling coalition, found himself with a clear path to the Senate throne. This victory marks Gilani's ascent to a historic trifecta, having previously held the positions of National Assembly speaker and prime minister, now poised to add Senate chairman to his list of accolades.

Before seizing the reins of government, PML-N and PPPP inked a pact, divvying up key posts in a political barter. Under this arrangement, PPP retained the esteemed offices of the president, the Senate’s chairman, and deputy speaker of the National Assembly, alongside governorships in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In exchange, PML-N secured the coveted offices of prime minister, National Assembly speaker, deputy chairman Senate, and governorships in Sindh and Balochistan.

On Monday, PTI decided to boycott the elections of chairman and deputy chairman Senate on the grounds that the house is incomplete as Senate polls were postponed to the extent of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the newly-elected lawmakers on reserved seats were not allowed to take the oath.

Although PTI has distanced itself from the elections on key posts in the Senate, the numerical strength of the ruling alliance is more than enough to secure victory even if PTI had decided to contest elections on both positions.

In the house of 96 members, 85 senators have so far been elected as the Election Commission of Pakistan had postponed elections on 11 seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to the non-administration of oaths to members elected on the reserved seats.