ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of opposition parties calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Monday nominated former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani as its joint candidate for an upcoming election for the post of senate chairperson, local media reported.
In a major blow to the government last week, Gillani won the general seat from Islamabad, beating the government’s candidate, finance minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, in a hotly-contested election for 37 seats in the upper house of parliament.
Gillani got 169 votes to Sheikh’s 164, with his success suggesting some ruling party lawmakers had revolted and didn’t vote for Shaikh for the key seat reserved for the capital Islamabad. The defeat pushed PM Khan to seek a parliamentary vote of confidence last Saturday, in which he was able to secure 178 votes against the 172 required to win confidence, the speaker of the house announced.
“The decision [on Gillani] by the opposition alliance was taken during a meeting chaired by PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad today,” Geo News reported. “The meeting of the Opposition party heads is also discussing a future strategy to oust the PTI-led government.”
The PDM had previously announced a long march to Islamabad on March 26, where the alliance is expected to hold a sit-in against the government.
