Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday met with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to mull over nominees for the Senate chairmanship. Photo: Geo News

 

LAHORE: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday met with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to exchange views on the upcoming poll for the Senate chairman and deputy chairman positions, sources informed Geo News.

According to reports, a number of the party?s senators came under consideration for the positions during the meeting held at Nawaz's Jati Umra residence. 

Independent FATA Senator Mirza Afridi joins PML-N

PML-N has emerged as the single largest party in Senate after candidates backed by it gained most seats in Saturday's Senate elections

Nawaz has also instructed Abbasi to remain in close contact with the party members, said sources. 

Senator Mirza Mohammad Afridi, who was elected as an independent senator from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) joined the party on Monday, after a meeting with Nawaz. 

PPP claims support of eight FATA senators 

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had earlier claimed to have the support of eight senators from FATA for the coveted slot of chairman and deputy chairman of the Upper House of Parliament.

The development came on Tuesday following a meeting between PPP leaders Dr Qayyum Soomro and Senator Saleem Mandviwala and the independent FATA senators.

According to sources, the FATA senators demanded support from the PPP regarding the rights of tribal areas in return for support for the Senate chairman and deputy chairman positions.

One of the four senators who were elected on Saturday, Mirza Afridi, reportedly joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)on Monday.

In the Senate polls on Saturday, PML-N-backed independent candidates emerged as the largest party in the Upper House of Parliament.

The party bagged a total of 15 Senate seats across the country, according to unofficial and unverified results, taking its total strength in the 104-member Senate to 33.

Despite the PPP's decline in Senate to a total of 21 seats, the party is aiming to take the slots of chairman and deputy chairman with the help of allies and independents.