PTI frets amid Senate committee elections

Says will protest against unjust allocation of panels’ chairmanship

ISLAMABAD:

The PTI, the largest opposition party in parliament, has not secured the chairmanship of any Senate standing committee. Based on its seats, the party believes it is entitled to lead nine standing committees in the upper house.

Talking to The Express Tribune, PTI Senator Ali Zafar said the parties in the ruling coalition are unfairly distributing the standing committees among themselves. “We will protest before Leader of the House Ishaq Dar and Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani over this matter. They have left us no option but to protest,” he added.

The PTI leader said his party is trying to conduct affairs according to the Constitution, law, and democracy but is being continually pushed against the wall.

On Thursday, members elected Senator Shahadat Awan of the PPP as the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources. Senator Qurat-ul-Ain Marri proposed Awan’s name, which was seconded by Senator Poonjo Mal Bheel.

Independent Senator Faisal Vawda was also elected unopposed as the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs. After his election, Vawda thanked the committee members for their trust. “My priority will be not only to identify maritime issues but also to resolve them,” he said.

A day earlier, Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the PML-N was elected unopposed as the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. The election, held on Wednesday, was supported by the government coalition, while opposition PTI senators abstained from voting.

Senator Siddiqui’s nomination for the chairmanship came from PPP parliamentary leader Senator Sherry Rehman and JUI-F parliamentary leader Maulana Attaur Rehman.

The nomination was seconded by PPP Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan and PML-N Senator Dr Afnan Ullah Khan.