Babar may be nominated as Leader of the House in Senate

ZULFIQAR AHMAD

ISLAMABAD: Farhatullah Babar, newly elected Senator of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has emerged as the most likely candidate for leader of the house in Upper House of the Parliament, it has been learnt.

According to PPP insiders, the party was considering the names of Farhatullah Babar and Islamuddin Sheikh, for the third top slot - leader of the house in Senate, after successfully filling chairman and deputy chairman's positions.

"Babar has emerged as the most eligible and suitable candidate, as he enjoys cordial relations with both opposition as well as treasury members and above all he is not a controversial person," they said.

About Aitzaz Ahsan, the sources said that he would not accept any position as he is facing immense criticism following his decision to defend the Prime Minister in contempt of court case. Senator Babar Awan was one of the options, they added, but it is his bad luck that many in the Prime Minister's camp are annoyed with him. There were chances that he could have been elevated as chairman, deputy or leader of the house for sure...the catch is that he himself came in the line of fire - facing a contempt case of his own, sources opined.

When contacted Farhatullah Babar said no decision has been taken so far. However, he said that the party leadership along with its coalition partners would take a decision as to who would be leader of the house. Babar said that a meeting of top PPP leaders and coalition partners would take place soon to finalise the name for the slot.

About the rumours to nominate Raza Rabbani, a senior leader of PPP's coalition partner said that Rabbani had already resigned when his name was rejected for chairman Senate's slot last time, so no way he would accept the job again.

"We would love to have him as leader of the house but I'm not sure he will accept the slot... he is a principled politician and this is the reason he sustains a high level of credibility in the eyes of both the treasury and opposition members," a senior senator remarked.