January 5, 2006	Thursday	Zilhaj 4, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 4: Federal Education Minister, Lt-Gen (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, whose name is among the senators who would be retiring on March 11, has been given green signal by the PML (Q) leadership to contest Senate election for the next term, Dawn has learnt from the party sources.

The minister has been asked to submit mandatory party fee for the Senate ticket, which he immediately deposited, although the Election Commission is yet to announce schedule.

The Prime Minister has also hinted at retaining important ministers who have found their names in the draw.

Under the draw, held the other day at the Parliament House, 50 per cent of the Senators, who have completed their three-year term, would be retiring on March 11, and rest of the lucky ones have been retained for another three years in total making it a six-year term for them.

Every three years, 50 senators out of total strength of the Senate, who would complete their six years, be automatically stood retired.

Gen Qazi is a close aide and most trusted members amongst federal cabinet members of President General Musharraf.

He had also been a vocal supporter of the president and his policies since 1999 and claimed to be saviour of the Pakistan railways during his tenure.

Gen Qazi, former Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence was taken as federal minister for railways when General Pervez Musharraf took over in 1999.

He remained in the cabinet of General Pervez Musharraf throughout his tenure as chief executive. After general elections in 2002, with PML (Q) coming to power, he was elected as senator from Punjab.

With Shaukat Aziz elected as Prime Minister last year, the federal cabinet was reshuffled and he was given the responsibility of education ministry.