Ruling coalition unlikely to achieve two-thirds majority after senate elections

[Naveed Yaseen]

Dilshad Azeem
The ruling coalition is likely to remain far short of two-thirds majority in the parliament despite the fact that it will grab a lion’s share in the next month’s Senate polls.

The government partners, however, will collectively enjoy a simple majority with the support of Fata and other independents in both houses of the parliament.

The coalition is expected to win 25-28 seats in these elections and firm up its hold on the upper house of the parliament with the support of Fata senators.

Maulana Samiul Haq’s JUI and BNP-Mengal will stand washed out of the parliament in upcoming Senate polls as they have no representation in the electoral college.

Jamaat-e-Islami and Mehmood Khan Achakzai’s Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party will keep their presence in the upper house, as only two members each of these parties will retire on March 12.

The PPP and its coalition partners can bring their own Senate chairman and deputy chairman, and get a simple legislation passed from both houses, but an amendment in the constitution sans the support of Nawaz or Q-League will be almost impossible.

The retirement of three senators of JUI-F, three independents — Gulzar Ahmed, Waqar Ahmed, Amin Dadabhoy — and two PPP-Sherpao will leave the treasury short of two-third majority.

The PPP alone will manage to add up to 20-22 seats to its existing nine, MQM having six senators, may get one extra seat, while the ANP will be able to bring its strength to five in the Senate.

The PML-N, having four senators, may clinch eight more seats provided dissidents of the Q-League continue to extend support to the Punjab government.

The PPP would grab seven seats, five general, one women and one technocrat, whereas the MQM will be in a position to get elected three to four senators from Sindh as the Functional League may clinch one seat as its support is required to PPP in both Sindh and at the Centre for technocrats and women reserved seats.

Balochistan can give surprises as PPP is hunting for up to seven seats, JUI-F is in a position to obtain two, BNP and Q-League may grab one seat each. Almost half of the Balochistan Assembly comprises Q-League’s 18 dissidents and 12 independents.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=162039