PPP nominates Sherry Rehman as opposition leader in Senate

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided to nominate Senator Sherry Rehman for position of opposition leader in the Senate.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Twitter announced the party's decision of nominating Rehman as the leader of opposition in the Senate. If she gets elected, she will become the first woman to lead the the opposition in the Senate.

#PPP ready to make history again. We nominate Senator @sherryrehman for the position of Leader of Opposition. InshAllah she will be the first woman to lead the opposition in the senate. Pakistan People’s Party; #WeMakeHistory

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) March 14, 2018

However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has reportedly opposed the decision and has plans of nominating a candidate from their own party, local media reports suggest. The PPP has won 20 seats in the Senate whereas, the PTI has 12 members.

Rehman has served as Pakistan's ambassador to United States during PPP's tenure. She had also served as a Senator and federal minister for information and broadcasting. If she becomes the leader of opposition in the Senate, she will replace Aitzaz Ahsan.

During the Senate chairman and deputy chairman election on March 12, PPP, PTI, Muttahida Quami Movement – Pakistan and Baluchistan’s independent senators had united and supported Sadiq Sanjrani for the post of Senate chairman and Saleem Mandviwala for deputy chairman. Together they defeated the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

After the chairman and deputy chairman's elections, the members of the opposition parties will be voting for the leader of the house and opposition.