ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader and the consensus candidate Mian Raza Rabbani was elected unopposed as the Senate Chairman on Thursday as no other candidate filed nomination papers for the slot
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Raza Rabbani had been nominated unanimously by the federal government and the opposition for the office.
Later, Mian Raza Rabbani took oath as new Chairman of the Upper House of the Parliament.
The Federal Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, who was nominated by President Mamnoon Hussain as presiding officer, administered the oath.
The new Senate Chairman has been in active politics since long and has served as the leader of the House in the Senate during the PPP tenure.
Raza Rabbani also served as Federal Minister for Law. He was also chairman of the committee which drafted the 18th and 19th amendment in the Constitution.
JUI-F’s Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri elected as Deputy Chairman Senate
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F)’s Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri was elected as the Deputy Chairman Senate after he secured 74 votes out of total 96 cast votes.
Later he took oath of his office. The presiding office of the Senate special session Ishaq Dar administered him the oath.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Shibli Faraz, who was also in the run for election of Deputy Chairman Senate, begged 16 votes.
The JUI-F’s Hafiz Hamadullah and Jahanzeb Jamaldini of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) had also submitted their nomination papers for the post. However, later they withdrew their nomination papers.
Earlier on Thursday morning, as many as 47 newly elected Senators took oath of their office at the Senate in Islamabad.
The presiding office Ishaq Dar administered the oath to them.
Later, after taking the oath the newly elected members signed the Roll of Members.
Ishaq Dar congratulated the newly elected members and expressed the hope that they will play their due role during their tenure as Senators.
Talking to media, the newly elected Senators vowed to work together for strengthening parliamentary and democratic norms in the country.
The new Senators said that Pakistan is faced with multiple challenges and the government and the opposition will have to work with cohesion to steer the country out of all challenges.
They said that being Senators they will try to bring legislation for welfare of the people.
