The Upper House of the Parliament in session. Photo: Geo News file

The political temperature is on the rise as parties redouble their efforts to strategise alliances ahead of elections for the seat of Senate chairman and deputy chairman positions.  

The competition between Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the two seats of power will largely depend on independent Senators. 

According to reports received by Geo News, political parties are in contact with the seven and eight independent senators elected from Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, who can change the course of the upcoming poll with the choice of their alliance.

PPP's Dr Abdul Qayyum Soomro (left) and Faisal Karim Kundi (right) reached Quetta here on Sunday, March 4, 2018, to convince the newly elected independent Senators to form an alliance with their party. Photo: Geo News

 

A delegation of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), comprising of Dr Abdul Qayyum Soomro and Faisal Karim Kundi, has reached Quetta today to meet Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo.

The delegation will hold talks to convince the newly elected independent Senators to join the party. Senior party leader Khurshid Shah has claimed that the PPP will 'win the war' of the Senate chairmanship.

PML-N

The independent candidates backed by the ruling party bagged 15 Senate seats across the country according to unofficial and unverified results.

It now has a total of 33 seats in the Upper House. Along with its alliance, the party has 48 seats in the Senate. 

PPP

PPP was replaced as the largest party in the Senate after Saturday's polls. The party, down six seats, has a total of 21 seats. Along with its allies, the party holds 40 seats in the Upper House of the Parliament. 

PTI

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, with 12 seats, is the third largest party in the Senate. With its strong opposition to both the PML-N and PPP, it will interesting to see which party will PTI choose to join hands with.