Hafeez Sheikh Might Still Become A Senator: Report

Hafeez Sheikh Might Still Become A Senator: Report
Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh who recently lost Senate election to Yousaf Raza Gilani still has a shot at becoming a Senator from Punjab as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is considering having him elected by de-seating Senator-elect Ishaq Dar who had not taken oath of his office.

Tribune express reported that at least three PTI members expressed the party’s wish to retain Sheikh as the finance minister due to his connections within International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international financial institutions.

Furthermore, there is a possibility that the government may issue a presidential ordinance setting a deadline for elected members of parliament and provincial assemblies to take their oaths of office.

Federal minister of planning and development Asad Umer confirmed the proposal to enact legislation making it mandatory for an elected official to take an oath in order to ensure that the province or a district is represented in the assembly.

There is currently no deadline for an elected official to take the oath.

He said this in response to a question about whether the government was considering passing an ordinance to remove Dar from his seat and replace him with Sheikh.