KARACHI, Jan 12: The People’s Party Parliamentarians, after being deserted by some “Patriots,” is aiming at at least 15 seats in the 100-member Senate, PPP sources said here on Sunday.
The provincial parliamentary chapters of the party have held several meetings to finalize the list of candidates for the general and other seats, in addition to the election of Senators from Islamabad and FATA.
After firming up strategy and list of candidates the provincial chapters would on Monday send them to the central leadership which in turn would transmit them to Benazir Bhutto for final approval.
A meeting was also held here at Bilawal House, but no announcement with regard to final candidates was made. Perhaps it has been delayed as the list of candidates are needed to be approved by Ms Bhutto, besides the outcome of some electoral understanding is being worked out with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.
In view of the present strength in the provincial assemblies the PPP might get four general and two each of the technocrat and women seats. In Punjab it appears that the Parliamentarians, if they play their cards well, could get three general and one technocrat seats. In the NWFP it might get one each for the general and technocrat seat.
In Balochistan the faring would depend on the support party members would muster for the candidates.
Apparently it seems that the PML-Q, MMA and Parliamentarians would emerge as three major power groups in the Senate. If the PML (N) would support the PPP, it might add to the number of the Parliamentarians by a trickle.
The main consideration in awarding tickets would be to send outspoken individuals, who could take on the government on finance, law, foreign policy and other important matters. Yet it is under pressure to accommodate individuals to appease certain vested groups within the party. There is also pressure from those outsiders, who were awarded National and provincial assembly tickets, by ignoring party loyalists, to consider their proxy, in view of their substantive contribution to the party.
The PPP is apprehensive of the “regime’s malafide intentions” as it has been emphasized that the constitutional provisions barring elected representatives from crossing the floor would not be applicable to the Senators. It, reportedly, fears that the regime is planning to repeat what it did in the National Assembly.
The PPP candidates are likely to file their nominations on the remaining two days, keeping in view the understanding arrived at with others. The sources said nomination papers would also be filed by some cover candidates, in view of the experience in the National and provincial assembly elections.
The PPP leadership is already under stress of criticism for awarding tickets to weaklings by ignoring diehard elements.
