ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has reportedly refused to meet newly-elected Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani.
The newly-elected chairman had asked for a courtesy meeting with the prime minister, who had declared Sajrani’s election illegal.
A letter was also sent to the prime minister in this regard. However, Abbasi has expressed his refusal to meet Sanjrani, according to reports in local media.
Just over the weekend, PM Abbasi said that the Senate chairman should be unanimous so that the Upper House of the Parliament should have respect and dignity, maintaining that Sadiq Sanjrani holds no respect as votes were bought for him.
“The faith of the senators has been purchased,” he said on Saturday while urging the members of the opposition to jointly nominate a new Senate chairman.
“The Senate chairman also serves as the acting president and it is a disgrace to the country that a man who bought votes became the leader of the upper house. Can there be any respect for the country after that?” he said.
The prime minister was addressing the inauguration ceremony of first ever CCV cable and Aluminium Alloy Plant at Sundur Industrial Area in Lahore.
Sadiq Sanjrani – elected to Senate as an independent in the March 3 election – was sworn in as Senate Chairman ON March 12 after he secured 57 votes out of the total 103 cast for the seat, defeating the PML-N’s Raja Zafarul Haq, who managed only 46.
He is the first-ever Senate chairman from Balochistan.
