Senator Rabbani is the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Constitutional Reforms. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided to field Senator Raza Rabbani in the presidential elections scheduled for August 6. The development coincides with a government request to the Election Commission of Pakistan for rescheduling the election in view of the last 10 days of Ramazan.
Speaking at a joint news conference at the Sindh Chief Minister House late Friday night, PPPP President Makhdoom Amin Fahim said all leaders and workers of the party had consensus on the name of Senator Rabbani.
At the news conference, Fahim was flanked by Senator Rabbani and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. The PPPP president said his party would also approach other opposition parties – including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Muttahida Qaumi Movement – to garner support for Senator Rabbani.
On his part, Senator Rabbani thanked the PPP leadership for nominating him for the top slot. “The 18th Constitutional Amendment has substantially clipped the powers of the president. The future president will have minimum authority,” he added.
The PPP nominee voiced hope that the presidential election would turn Pakistan into a ‘true federal state’ and they would help the government promote a democratic culture in the country.
Senator Rabbani is the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Constitutional Reforms. A few months ago, the PPP had appointed him its central additional secretary general.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2013.
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@Aysha M:
Raza Rabbani's integrity as a poilitician is unquestionable and he has stayed loyal to the party and its ideals since its formation.
Aitzaz Ahsan, by comparison, is a turn-coat and time-server: of whom there are many in the PPP.
Zardari knows how to pick a loser. Rabbani is the best face to represent losers in Pakistan
Both PPP and PML-N should have nominated Atizaz Ahsan as their joint candidate
Why can't the PPP ever select someone who is non-politicized for the post of the President???
@Ajaz Haque: For contesting elections one does not have to give up his/her seat. It is only after a person is elected at two seats then he/she has to choose one and vacate the other. Regards, M
Pakistan demographic indicate young vibrant population in majorty. Pakistan need Young and Dynamic candidate to match growing Young Population.
Good guy to lose and bad guy to win, this is PPP.
@Ajaz Haque:
He will have to resign if he wins the election only. Theres no compulsion to resign before that.
So, Zardari has come up with another trick to get rid of probably the only honest and upright politician in PPP by offering him up for sacrifice. Zaradri knows that PPP's candidate has no chance of winning, but Rabbani will probably have to resign his Senate seat, so this way he gets rid of Rabbani.
In Pakistan, honourable ppl get nomination for PM and President when there is no chance of winning :-)
Raza Rabbani and Javed Hashmi have something in common.
A great choice by the opposition leader in the NA. Let us see how PML-N would bring a better candidate?