Vacant seat: Most suitable senator?
If Swati manages to win Hoti’s seat, the party will further consolidate its position
PTI has six senators from K-P in the Upper House and if Swati manages to win Hoti’s seat, the party will further consolidate its position. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR:
PTI K-P President Azam Khan Swati has been touted as the most suitable candidate for late ANP leader Azam Khan Hoti’s seat in the Senate. Since the PTI and its allies enjoy numerical superiority in the K-P Assembly, the by-elections are expected to be smooth-sailing for Swati.
PTI has six senators from K-P in the Upper House and if Swati manages to win Hoti’s seat, the party will further consolidate its position. However, the PTI leader is likely to face considerable opposition from JUI-F leader and former senator Haji Ghulam Ali. Opposition parties in the K-P Assembly are supporting Ali for this seat.
Speaking to journalists while submitting his nomination papers earlier this week, he said JUI-F had contacted ANP—the party Hoti belonged to—and obtained their support. He added the party had also gained assurances from opposition leaders in QWP, PPP and PML-N before deciding to contest the Senate by-elections.
According to Ali, his party’s decision to contest elections was aimed at settling scores with PTI for challenging JUI-F leader Abdul Ghafoor Haideri’s appointment as deputy chairman of Senate even though he had secured six seats in the Upper House.
Before joining PTI in 2011, Swati was a member of JUI-F and a senator. After he resigned from his senate seat, ANP did not contest by-polls even though it had a majority as a ruling party.
On the contrary, it left this seat uncontested to the JUI-F which was then a major opposition party.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2015.
PTI K-P President Azam Khan Swati has been touted as the most suitable candidate for late ANP leader Azam Khan Hoti’s seat in the Senate. Since the PTI and its allies enjoy numerical superiority in the K-P Assembly, the by-elections are expected to be smooth-sailing for Swati.
PTI has six senators from K-P in the Upper House and if Swati manages to win Hoti’s seat, the party will further consolidate its position. However, the PTI leader is likely to face considerable opposition from JUI-F leader and former senator Haji Ghulam Ali. Opposition parties in the K-P Assembly are supporting Ali for this seat.
Speaking to journalists while submitting his nomination papers earlier this week, he said JUI-F had contacted ANP—the party Hoti belonged to—and obtained their support. He added the party had also gained assurances from opposition leaders in QWP, PPP and PML-N before deciding to contest the Senate by-elections.
According to Ali, his party’s decision to contest elections was aimed at settling scores with PTI for challenging JUI-F leader Abdul Ghafoor Haideri’s appointment as deputy chairman of Senate even though he had secured six seats in the Upper House.
Before joining PTI in 2011, Swati was a member of JUI-F and a senator. After he resigned from his senate seat, ANP did not contest by-polls even though it had a majority as a ruling party.
On the contrary, it left this seat uncontested to the JUI-F which was then a major opposition party.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2015.