By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Rana Sanaullah Khan, a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and adviser to the prime minister on political affairs, won a Senate by-election in Punjab on Tuesday, unofficial results showed.
The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) boycotted the vote.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s Form-56, Sanaullah secured 250 votes in the polling at the Punjab Assembly. Of the 363 provincial legislators, 251 voted, with one ballot rejected. Sanaullah faced Salma Ejaz, wife of disqualified PTI senator Ejaz Chaudhry, whose removal prompted the by-election. The PTI’s boycott, however, ensured Sanaullah’s victory, with the government alliance holding a majority of 263 voters against the opposition’s 100.
The polling, conducted smoothly from 9 am to 4 pm, drew key figures, including Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, who cast votes for Sanaullah.
Speaking to reporters after his win, Sanaullah criticized the PTI’s boycott as a sign of weakness. “The PTI did not choose to boycott the democratic process but chose to escape from the elections,” he said. “Their boycott of the elections is a lack of confidence in their members.”
The by-election follows disqualification of 12 PTI lawmakers, eight from the National Assembly and four from the Punjab Assembly, over their convictions in cases tied to the May 9, 2023, protests. The Senate seat became vacant after Ejaz Chaudhry’s disqualification.
Earlier this month, Salma Ejaz, the PTI’s expected candidate, announced the boycott, stating she would not participate in what she called “fraudulent elections,” according to the PTI’s media wing. The move reflects a broader PTI strategy, outlined by party leader Imran Khan, to abstain from by-elections for seats vacated by disqualified members. In a recent X post, Khan said, “We will not field any candidates in the by-elections for the seats of our unjustly disqualified members. These individuals stood firm with PTI despite extreme challenges. Therefore, the party will completely boycott these by-elections.” The PTI plans to contest only NA-129 seat in Lahore, vacated after the death of MNA Mian Azhar.
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