PM backs Raza Rabbani for Senate chairman’s slot

ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ruled out the possibility of horse-trading and political bargaining in tomorrow’s (Thursday) election for the Senate chairman by announcing its support for the opposition’s Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) designated candidate, former federal minister and architect of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani here on Tuesday.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a lunch that he hosted for parliamentary group leaders at the PM House.The announcement has paved the way for the uncontested election of Senator Raza Rabbani to the post.
The announcement made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif buried speculation about the contest for the slot of the chairman Senate as he announced that his party would not propose any candidate for the office of deputy chairman.
The ruling party will accept the candidate proposed by the opposition.Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, who was also present on the occasion, paid rich tributes to the sagacity of the prime minister and appreciated the decision generously.
Later, Mian Raza Rabbani also joined the leaders at the lunch and had a meeting with the prime minister. He thanked Mian Nawaz Sharif for the announcement and assured him that he would act in the best possible democratic manner and work to strengthen parliament and democracy.
Premier Nawaz Sharif congratulated him on his consensus candidature and maintained that no other decision could have been better than the one taken.Former president Asif Zardari has also welcomed thedecision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to endorse the nominee of the opposition parties, Raza Rabbani, for the office of Senate chairman.
He termed it a triumph of the Charter of Democracy and victory of the spirit of democratic accommodation and reconciliation. His spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the former president especially thanked all opposition political leaders including Awami National Party’s (ANP) Asfandyar Wali, Altaf Hussain of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Chaudhry Shujaat of Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), Israrullah Zehri of BNP-A and Fata senators for nominating Raza Rabbani for the office, as well as Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Asif Zardari also felicitated Raza Rabbani on his unanimous endorsement as chairman of Senate.Earlier, during the luncheon meeting, the premier said that the appointment of a chairman of Senate should be decided after consultation with all parties. The luncheon meeting was held in honour of political leaders and heads from PPP, ANP, MQM, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Pakistan National party (PNP) and Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party attended the meeting.
The prime minister said that the PML-N initiated the process of holding consultation with all political leaders to come to a consensus on national issues, which yielded positive results.He mentioned that PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari held a meeting on Monday for all parties to come to a consensus for a candidate of Senate chairmanship and said that his party too endorsed Raza Rabbani, in order to further promote the culture of mutual consensus between political parties.
The prime minister said, “We always fostered a spirit of consultation and understanding as internal conflicts in the past, and punting harm the country.”He said that the consultation and understanding should stick to tradition. He stressed the need on having a chairman and deputy chairman with Senate’s unanimous decision and consultation should also be there.
He said that he had always been interested in positions more good democratic traditions.The prime minister said that the government along with other parties made serious efforts to put an end to horse-trading in politics.
The opposition parties unanimously nominated PPP’s Raza Rabbani as their candidate for the office of Senate chairman Monday evening. It was announced by ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan in the presence of representatives of all opposition parties represented in the Senate after almost a four-hour meeting at Zardari House. He claimed that he suggested the name of Mian Raza Rabbani for the purpose.
Asfandyar Wali, talking to media, asserted that three sitting Fata senators were also part of the opposition alliance whereas one Fata senator belonged to the JUI-F.Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the JUI-F chief, had attended the meeting for some time, who was brought by Senator Abdul Qayyum Soomro for the meeting.
The impression was given that Maulana still wanted to keep his options open as he was scheduled to have a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday.The prime minister had invited for his Tuesday’s lunch among others, Asif Zardari, PML-Q President Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and BNP-M Asadullah Mengal but they opted not to attend the lunch.
Political sources told The News that some federal ministers including Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Senator Pervaiz Rashid worked hard for developing a consensus on the subject.
The PML-N Tuesday announcement about the top position of Senate is in line with Nawaz Sharif’s policy of accommodating others and respecting the mandate. Immediately after assuming office, he turned down a proposal to form his PML-N government by striking an alliance with the JUI of Maulana Fazl. He again declined to form PML-N government in Balochistan and let the nationalists to establish their government in that province. Nawaz Sharif didn’t interfere in the process of formation of government in Sindh, the sources reminded.
Later, a delegation of the MQM comprising Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiquee, Dr Farooq Sattar, Rauf Siddiqui, Kanwar Naveed and Mian Ateeq called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House here this afternoon.
The delegation said that the day was a historic one in the political history of Pakistan.They congratulated the prime minister on making the magnanimous decision of supporting the consensus candidate for the slot of Senate chief and said that this revolutionary step would play a key role in strengthening democratic traditions in the country.
The prime minister said that PML-N believed in making decisions on all important national issues through consensus. Confrontation and internal differences have caused damage to the country in the past, he said.
APP adds: Leaders of various political parties have hailed the decision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to endorse Mian Raza Rabbani for the Senate chairmanship.The leaders said that the prime minister had set a new tradition by fielding a consensus candidate for the office of Senate Chairman, Radio Pakistan reported.
Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said the prime minister, showing openheartedness, had set a glorious tradition.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the premier adopted the role of a wise leader and his decision would help further strengthen democracy.Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali termed Rabbani’s unanimous candidature for top Senate slot a historic decision in the country’s political history.Mir Hasil Bizenjo said the prime minister had set a new example to accommodate and take along all the political parties.