ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will meet heads of parliamentary parties on Friday in an attempt to pave the way for government’s plan to pass a constitutional amendment for an open ballot in the Senate elections.

Media wing of the prime minister’s office said the meeting would take place after Friday prayers.

The PPP and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) have confirmed their participation.

Know more: PPP lukewarm to govt proposal on Senate voting

Senator Farhatullah Babar, spokesperson for PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, told Dawn that Syed Khursheed Shah would attend the meeting.

A PPP source told Dawn that instead of Senate elections-specific changes in the Constitution his party would ask for comprehensive electoral reforms.

PPP wants electoral reforms instead of Senate poll-specific changes in the Constitution

Since the PPP holds majority in the Senate, the government requires its unconditional support for a two-thirds majority vote in the upper house.

Meanwhile, Mr Zardari telephoned PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and Jamiat Ulem-i-Islam-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and discussed with them the forthcoming Senate election.

Talking to Dawn, PTI General Secretary Jahangir Tareen said Dr Arif Alvi would attend the meeting. The party had decided to attend the meeting because it also wanted the Senate elections through show of hands, instead of a secret ballot, he said.

PTI MNAs have submitted their resignations to the National Assembly speaker, but Mr Tareen said: “Let the government constitute an inquiry commission to investigate rigging in the 2013 general elections, we will waste no time in attending the National Assembly session.”

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2015

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