ISLAMABAD\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0 Pakistan Democratic Movement\u2019s controversial defeat in the Senate Chairman\u00a0and Deputy Chairman\u2019s election may have injected the required fuel into the Opposition\u2019s train for\u00a0the\u00a0upcoming long march against the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The contest was too close than it seemed in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yousaf Raza Gilani could have knocked out Sadiq Sanjrani with one vote if the seven rejected votes were counted. All of them were cast for Gilani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The voters could have been on a \u201cmission\u201d to create a gap for Sanjrani to run away with the victory. Otherwise, the Opposition had a slight advantage in the election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maulana Ghafoor Haidri received more valid votes,44,than Gilani in the Deputy Chairman\u2019s election. And interestingly, Mirza Mohammad Afridi also received more votes than Sanjrani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He attracted 54 votes to bag the Deputy Chairman\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Gilani\u2019s controversial defeat could have gifted another issue to the PDM as they plan to topple the government. The PDM is ready to launch a long march against the government on March 26. Thee have been differences among the Pakistan People\u2019s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal) on how to go about the anti-government campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gilani\u2019s defeat could remove the differences to make the long march stronger and perhaps longer. The PPP is also considering two options. PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the party can either challenge Sanjrani\u2019s victory in court or bring a no-confidence motion against him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said the results were unacceptable. \u201cWe reject this election. The PDM rejects this election,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ashraf said the long march would wash away the government as the people had rejected the rulers. PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said the PDM will not let the government steal the results. \u201cThe long march will decide which side enjoys people\u2019s mandate. The government\u2019s illegal practices are about to end,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tension between the government and the Opposition has been brewing since the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf won the 2018 polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PTI also managed to form the provincial government in Punjab despite the PML-N emerging as the largest party. The PTI was slightly behind but garnered the support of independents and smaller parties to get the required strength to form the government. The PDM, led by the PPP, the PML-N and the JUI-F has planned a showdown with the government on March 26 which could turn into a massive sit-in. PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said the upcoming long march could be the last one for the government. \u201cThis government has no public backing. We will send this government packing,\u201d he stated. Kaira said the PDM was united against the government and determined to show it the door. He said the PPP will observe Zulfikar Ali Bhutto\u2019s death anniversary at the D-Chowk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Information Minister Shibli Faraz said the Opposition\u2019s sinister plans had been exposed. \u201cThey are using all \u201ccriminal tactics\u201d because they know they don\u2019t have the support of the majority,\u201d he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed ruled out the possibility of a change in result in the Senate Chairman and Deputy Chairman\u2019s election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNothing will happen. In Pakistan, it has become a pattern that those who lose they don\u2019t accept their defeat,\u201d he said. He said the Opposition will not be stopped from holding protests and rallies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0 Pakistan Democratic Movement\u2019s controversial defeat in the Senate Chairman\u00a0and Deputy Chairman\u2019s election may have injected the required fuel into the Opposition\u2019s train for\u00a0the\u00a0upcoming long march against the government. The contest was too close than it seemed in the end. Yousaf Raza Gilani could […]<\/p>\n
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