Gilani sees establishment 'neutral' in Senate elections.

Byline: Amir Wasim

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart and joint candidate of the opposition parties Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that it seems the 'establishment' is not supporting anyone and playing a neutral role in the upcoming Senate elections.

Talking to reporters after his meeting with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is also president of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), on Monday, former prime minister Gilani claimed that he would emerge as victorious in the March 3 Senate polls, saying during his campaign he has received 'positive and good response'.

'I am not [Imran] Khan Sahib's spokesman and can't speak on his behalf. But what I see is that the establishment is totally neutral,' Mr Gilani said when asked as to how he could win the election without the establishment's support and whether he had reports that the establishment had distanced itself from Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Former premier meets PDM chief, denies reports about his contact with Jahangir Tareen

The former premier was accompanied by a PPP delegation comprising secretary general Nayyar Bokhari, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar.

Mr Gilani also denied reports about his contact with former secretary general of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Jahangir Tareen. 'I have not met Jahangir Tareen. Neither have we talked over telephone. But since he is my relative, there is no need for me to say anything to him,' he said in response to a question.

Mr Gilani thanked the PDM leadership for nominating him as a joint candidate and said he would meet the heads of other component parties as well to thank them.

He recalled his election as prime minister in 2008, saying he had polled 264 votes while his opponent had received just 42 votes. After the election, he said, all members of the assembly unanimously supported him as the prime minister when he sought a vote of confidence from the house, adding that he had got those votes on the basis of his 'personal relations'.

Mr Gilani said he would get votes this time on the basis of his performance as the prime minister, the speaker of the National Assembly, a federal minister and even as chairman of the district council of Multan.

He said he was happy that after his nomination, the members of parliament were being given respect and now the government was holding meetings with MNAs, MPAs and senators.

In response to a question about the role of the Pakistan...