MQM-P announces support for PTI candidate in election for Senate opposition leader

Published March 15, 2018
PTI leader Imran Ismail (L) addresses a press conference with MQM-P's Faisal Subzwari in Karachi on Thursday.— DawnNews
PTI leader Imran Ismail (L) addresses a press conference with MQM-P's Faisal Subzwari in Karachi on Thursday.— DawnNews

The Bahadurabad faction of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Thursday announced that it will support Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) candidate for the position of the leader of opposition in the Senate.

The announcement was made after a PTI delegation led by Imran Ismail visited MQM's Bahadurabad office in Karachi.

Addressing a press conference alongside MQM leader Faisal Subzwari, Ismail said the PTI will announce its candidate for the Senate opposition leader tomorrow. However, he said, his party desired that the MQM consents to support their candidate before they leave the Bahaduarabad office.

Speaking on behalf of MQM's coordination committee, Subzwari said it has been decided that all MQM senators will support the PTI candidate in the race for the post of Senate opposition leader.

Thanking the PTI delegation for their visit, Subzwari said his party had supported Sadiq Sanjrani, an independent senator from Balochistan, for the post of Senate chairman but decided not to support PPP's nominee for the deputy chairman's office because the PPP has "ruined" the Sindh province with its alleged corruption and incompetence in the last decade.

He said although the MQM does not question the credentials of PPP nominee Sherry Rehman to be elected the Senate opposition leader, his party cannot vote for her because of her association with the PPP.

"The people of this province, especially urban Sindh, are resentful of the PPP," Subzwari said.

The Senate elects the chairman, deputy chairman, leader of the house and leader of the opposition every three years after elections for half of its members are held. While the chairman and deputy chairman were elected on Monday, elections for the leader of the house and opposition are yet to take place.

The leader of the opposition is chosen by a majority vote of members of the opposition.

Opinion

Editorial

Collective wisdom
05 Mar, 2026

Collective wisdom

IN times like these, when war is raging in the neighbourhood, it is important for the state to bring on board all...
Economic impact
Updated 05 Mar, 2026

Economic impact

The Iran-linked instability highlights the fact that Pakistan’s macroeconomic resilience remains fragile.
Shrouds of innocence
05 Mar, 2026

Shrouds of innocence

TWO-and-a-half years of relentless slaughtering of Palestinian children, with complete impunity and in the most...
Regional climbdown
04 Mar, 2026

Regional climbdown

WITH the region in flames, Pakistan must calibrate its foreign policy accordingly; it has to deal with some ...
Burning questions
Updated 04 Mar, 2026

Burning questions

A credible, independent, and time-bound inquiry is now necessary after the US Consulate protest ended in gruesome bloodshed.
Governance failure
04 Mar, 2026

Governance failure

BENEATH Lahore’s signal-free corridors and road infrastructure lies a darker truth: crumbling sewerage lines,...