PTI wins support of MQM-P for opposition leader in Senate

KARACHI - The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) announced on Thursday that it would support Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate in the contest for the Senate's opposition leader.

The Bahadurabad faction of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) met a delegation of PTI led by Imran Ismail and other local leaders including Azam Swati, who is poised to be PTI's candidate for the opposition leader, however, an official announcement is yet to be made public.

Addressing a news conference alongside MQM leader Faisal Subzwari, Ismail said the PTI will announce its candidate for the Senate opposition leader tomorrow (Friday).

"MQM consents to support their candidate before they leave the Bahaduarabad office," claimed Ismail.

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

Subzwri thanked the PTI delegation for their visit and 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.

"PPP has ruined the Sindh province with its alleged corruption and incompetence in the last decade. The people of this province, especially urban Sindh, are resentful of the PPP.' alleged Subzwari.

He clarified that although the MQM did not question the credentials of  PPP's nominee for the opposition leader, Sherry Rehman, his party cannot vote for her because of her association with the PPP.

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.

The chairman and deputy chairman were elected on Monday, surprising the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, the leader of the house and opposition are yet to be elected.

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