ISLAMABAD (DNA) – As the Senate’s session began on Thursday, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq tabled the no-confidence resolution against Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and deputy chairman Saleem Mandviwala.

64 Senators favour resolution against Sanjrani when the presiding office asked the senators to rise on their seats to move resolution against the incumbent chairman

The upper House takes up the first-ever no-trust motions against its chairman and deputy chairman, both of them cannot chair the session according to the rules; hence President Arif Alvi has nominated Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to chair the session.

The government and the opposition have locked horns in an unprecedented Senate session today for the chairmanship of the upper House of the Parliament, and the opposition in the senate has apparently gained the support of 65 senators for its joint candidate Hasil Bizenjo, whereas the incumbent chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is being backed by 36 senators, who are in alliance with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The total number of Senate seats is 104. There are currently 103 senators as Ishaq Dar of the PML-N is yet to take oath.

A total of 53 votes are required to remove the chairman and deputy chairman from their offices. The opposition has a total of 67 members, one of whom (Ishaq Dar) has still not taken oath. Out of the remaining 66 senators, two belong to Jamaat-i-Islami, which has decided to abstain from the proceedings.