PML-N decides to contest Senate polls

ISLAMABAD – Amid aggressive campaign to topple Prime Minister Imran Khan from power, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to take part in forthcoming polls for Senate elections.

The decision was taken during a meeting of PML-N’s parliamentary leaders with party vice president Maryam Nawaz in the chair, apparently serving a below to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of opposition parties, which has a plan to resign from assemblies on the cards.

While addressing the meeting, Maryam said that the PML-N would continue to play its role in the parliament besides giving tough time to the PTI government on public and national issues.

He said that the PDM will take a decision about quitting the parliament, adding that the decision will be accepted by all member parties.

Rejecting to hold negotiations with the government, she said that no one can pressurize the leaders of the party.

The PML-N’s decision comes weeks after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chaiman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in December 2020 announced to contest by-polls and Senate elections.

The federal government is yet to announce a date for polls on Senate seats. But it is making efforts to conduct the elections through open ballot.

A presidential reference has been filed with the Supreme Court, seeking suggestion for holding election through open ballot without constitutional amendment.

The PTI government is of the view that the secret balloting damages the transparency.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulza Ahmed is hearing the reference. Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Senate chairman have supported the open ballot while the Sindh government is opposing it.