ISLAMABAD: Sitting senator from Balochistan Rubina Irfan has emerged as a strong candidate for the deputy chairperson position of the upper house of parliament.

A member of the PML-Q, Rubina Irfan enjoys strong support from Balochistan senators and the president of the National Party, Hasil Bizenjo.

A top PPP source speaking to DawnNews said there is currently no representation from Balochistan at any top political or constitutional office which is why it was decided that the deputy chairperson position should go to Balochistan.

Leaders and senators from Balochistan have already met at the residence of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and discussed names for deputy chairperson of the Senate.

The source revealed that a high-level PPP delegation would meet with the PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at his residence to convince him to also consider the PPP nominee for the deputy chairperson position.

The PPP is reportedly supporting the election of a deputy chairperson from a smaller province as a second to their nominee for chairman, Raza Rabani.

Read more: Nawaz meets Zardari after endorsing Raza Rabbani for Senate chief

In a Mar 8, 2015 report, a senior PPP office-bearer who is privy to internal party meetings occurring at Zardari House, told Dawn that there was no harm in offering the office of the deputy chairman to smaller parties such as the MQM or the ANP for the sake of consensus on the chairman’s slot.

He also said that the party had almost agreed that both Senate chairman and the deputy chairman should be from the smaller provinces and not from Punjab.

Read more: PPP boosts lobbying for Senate offices