“Now that Faiz is gone, what will you do?” Zardari asked Sanjrani

ISLAMABAD: At Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s son’s wedding reception in Islamabad on Friday, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari struck up a humorous small conversation.

Along with other politicians, the former president and Sanjrani were seated at a table when Zardari started joking with the Senate Chairman about what he would do without the assistance of Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid, the former Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Hamid retired from the military early in November of last year, the day before the army’s command was changed.

“Faiz has gone, what will you do now?” The PPP heavyweight approached Sanjrani while they were seated at the same table, just close enough to start a discussion.

“[But] you are still there,” the Senate Chairman said in response to Zardari’s joke, implying that he was looking for his support.

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Zardari gave him a taunting response at this point. He went on to ask the Senate Chairman to exercise political discernment.

He joked, “Their reign does not last forever, but ours does.”

The wedding was also attended by a number of national politicians, including Akram Durrani, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Jamaat-e-Islami deputy chief Liaqat Baloch, Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Speaker of the National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar.

Nikkah of Fazl’s son, Maulana Asjad Mahmood, was solemnised by Sahibzada Khalil.

In August 2019, Sadiq Sanjrani survived the no-trust motion in a shocking victory in the then opposition-led upper house of the parliament.

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The opposition was in the majority with 64 senators present at the time of voting but the motion failed to get the required no of votes.

The final vote count was 50 votes in favour of the motion, five votes rejected, and 45 cast against.

It was then alleged by the opposition parties that Faiz Hamid played an important role in securing victory for Sanjrani.

He was re-elected as the Senate chairman on March 12, 2021.