Senate elections: Zardari outwits PML-N, wins support of JUI-F

Alliances with smaller parties will help PPP maintain dominance in Senate

ISLAMABAD: A day after it turned down the ruling party’s offer for seats-adjustment in the upcoming Senate elections, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s eponymous faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) acquiesced to form an alliance with the main opposition party. JUI-F’s support will not only help the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) maintain its dominance in the upper house of the parliament but also clinch both top slots in the house.

PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman reached the understanding in a meeting at the latter’s residence in the federal capital on Sunday. Appearing before the media after the meeting, Zardari said his party, JUI-F and ANP were on the same page vis-à-vis Senate elections to be held on March 5. “The PPP is also making efforts to convince Aftab Ahmed Sherpao’s Qaumi Watan Party to join the alliance.”

Referring to the complaints of massive rigging in the last elections, Zardari said everyone knew how the May 2013 polls were conducted. “The PPP accepted the election results with reservations for the sake of democracy,” he added. “We are determined to see democracy flourish in the country.”

Zardari confirmed that he and Maulana Fazl exchanged views on the Senate elections. The JUI-F chief, however, sought to downplay the interaction. “We discussed the prevailing political situation,” he told journalists.

A senior member of the federal cabinet said that Zardari has proved his superior negotiating skills by winning over the JUI-F, MQM, PML-Q, ANP, BNP-Awami and effectively snatching victory from the PML-N and paving way for PPP’s dominance in the Senate.

Through these alliances, sources said, the PPP was likely to muster the support of 53 senators which will help the party get its chairman and deputy chairman elected in the 104-member house. Currently, the PPP enjoys the support of 38 senators – including 19 of its own, four from the MQM, three from the JUI-F, six from the ANP, four from the PML-Q and two from the BNP-Awami.

The new alliances would help the PPP get the support of 15 more senators after the March 5 polls. These will include seven PPP senators from Sindh, four MQM senators and four senators from the JUI-F. Moreover, four incumbent senators from Fata have also promised to support PPP nominees for the Senate top slots.

On the other hand, the PML-N has the support of nine senators – eight of its own and one from the PML-F. Sources said the PML-N was expecting 19 more senators after the March 5 election. However, even after getting support of its allies – PkMAP and NP, which respectively expect two seats each – the PML-N would hardly be able to get 35 votes, well short of the numerical strength required for clinching the top slots.

A PML-N leader told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity that the ‘arrogant attitude’ of the party leadership did not allow making alliances with smaller parties, including BNP-Awami, ANP, PML-Q, MQM and JUI-F.

Zardari calls Imran

Asif Zardari also telephoned PTI chief Imran Khan and discussed the Senate election. According to sources, Zardari asked Imran to send his 30 MPAs to the Punjab Assembly on the election day to vote for PPP candidate Nadeem Afzal Chan.

In return, Zardari offered to support the PTI in the K-P Assembly along with his allies – including the JUI-F, ANP and QWP – to get five of its Senate candidates’ elected. The PPP chief also offered the PTI chairperson-ship of certain Senate committees. However, Imran said he would get back to him after discussing the issue with party leaders.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2015.