Yousaf Gillani files intra-court appeal against IHC verdict on Senate Chairmanship

According to details, the opposition leader in senate has challenged the verdict of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah that rejected PPP’s petition against election of Sadiq Sanjrani as Chairman Senate.

The PPP senator has appealed the court to set aside verdict of single bench and remove Sadiq Sanjrani from his position of top senate slot.

PPP leader has also requested the court to nullify rejection of his seven votes by presiding officer and declare him as Chairman Senate.

Earlier on March 24, IHC dismissed a petition by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani challenging the results of the Senate chairman election, stating that the proceedings of senate were "immune from the interference" of the high court.

It is pertinent here to mention that the members of the Upper House of the Parliament elected government’s candidates Sadiq Sanjrani and Mirza Muhammad Afridi for top senate slots, while Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidates Yousuf Raza Gilani and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri faced defeat.

A total of 98 members of senate voted for Chairman and Deputy Chairman. Sadiq Sanjrani got 48 votes while his opponent Yousuf Raza Gilani got 42 votes and 7 votes were rejected.

Likewise, ex-FATA Senator Mirza Afridi secured 54 votes, defeating PDM candidate Abdul Ghafoor Haideri who got only 44 votes.

The opposition claimed that the intention of voters was clear in seven votes that were rejected by the presiding officer and later announced to challenge the election in a court of law.