ISLAMABAD: An interesting one-on-one contest between Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) candidate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh is expected on the only general seat from Islamabad.
The competition between Gilani and Shaikh has acquired great significance despite ruling alliance will have its upper hand in the race because of having its thin majority in the National Assembly.
This contest will remain tough for the ruling party as the Senate election will be held through secret balloting. As many as 172 votes are required to be obtained from 342 MNAs to secure Senate general seat from Islamabad.
By having a look at the party strength in National Assembly, PTI and its allies have total 178 seats there while all Opposition parties including four independent lawmakers in the house have total strength of 161.
Numerically, PTI has an upper hand over the Opposition for the Senate election on Islamabad seat. However, the election will become very close keeping in view the stature of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani who has personal as well as family ties with many those political families in Punjab and Sindh.
The PDM is also trying to give an impression that the election on the general seat of Islamabad is a test case for it in order to materialize its idea of moving a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in future.
On the other hand, the ruling party has enhanced its efforts to ensure that no member of the ruling alliance should cross the floor and vote for Hafeez Sheikh while sensitizing the situation that PDM wanted to cause it a dent through Gilani’s victory.
