PESHAWAR: After holding two days of consultations within the party, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is likely to nominate seasoned politician Senator Mian Raza Rabbani as chairman senate.

Sources told DawnNews that PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, after holding thorough individual and group consultations with party members, has formally decided to nominate Mian Raza Rabbani for the prestigious slot of chairman senate.

Read: PPP boosts lobbying for Senate offices

The sources elaborated that during the consultations regarding the nomination of Senate's chairman and deputy chairman most party members had opted to nominate Mian Raza Rabbani for the top Senate post.

Also read: Lobbying begins with PPP, PML-N vying for Senate chairman slot

The source added that party co-chairman will present the name of Raza Rabbani before coalition partners in a meeting which is scheduled to be held on today evening at Zardari House in the federal capital city.

When asked about the deputy chairman, the source said that PPP had decided only for the slot of Senate chairman and the second important slot will be offered to coalition partners.

Earlier, PPP spokesperson Farhatullah Babar told Dawn that Mr Zardari had invited party leaders from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP), JUI-F, PML-Q, Fata and Balochistan National Party-Awami for the meeting on Monday evening.

Mr Babar said the meeting was aimed at “discussing prospects and strategy for fielding consensus candidates for the offices of chairman and deputy chairman Senate on March 12.”

Read: PML-N, PPP offer Senate post to allies

Following the Senate elections held on Mar 5 and marred by rigging allegations, the ruling PML-N and main opposition PPP got almost equal representation in the Upper House of Parliament over the next three years.

Also read: Senate election and its set of controversies

Despite winning the most seats, the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) will continue to remain a minority government in the Senate with 26 senators as the PPP has maintained its position as the single largest party with 27 senators.

Also read: PML-N seeks Q’s support for top Senate posts

This left the race for the coveted slots of chairman and deputy chairman wide open giving smaller parties a greater role in the process.

Both — PML-N and PPP — have boosted their efforts and established smaller parties in order to gain their support for the coveted offices of Senate chairman and deputy chairman.