By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD – The ruling coalition emerged victorious in Tuesday’s Senate elections, securing 19 seats, while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) amid a dispute over the swearing-in of opposition members.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won six seats, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) claimed 11, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) took one seat, as per unofficial results. The PML-N’s Senate count now stands at 19, the PPP at 24, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) maintains 20 seats.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the elections as a reflection of democratic values, expressing hope for the newly elected senators to further the nation’s constitutional and developmental agenda.
In Punjab, seven candidates for general seats were elected unopposed, with additional polls held for reserved seats. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Petroleum Minister Musadiq Malik won the technocrat seats, while PML-N’s Anusha Rehman and Bushra Anjum triumphed in the women’s category. PML-N’s Khalil Tahir Sindhu secured a minority seat.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar won a technocrat seat in Islamabad, and PPP’s Rana Mehmoodul Hassan claimed a general seat. The PPP also dominated in Sindh, securing 10 of the 12 available seats, with the remaining two going to the MQM-P and an independent candidate.
However, the Senate elections have been overshadowed by boycotts and delays. Sindh’s Chief Minister criticized unnamed parties, presumably the PTI, for retreating from the election in Sindh.
In KP, the ECP’s postponement of polling was due to an incomplete electoral college and the absence of oath administration to elected members, which it deemed a violation of constitutional standards for a fair election.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s refusal to allow “illegal people” to take the oath has deepened political rifts. The opposition, led by Dr. Ibadullah Khan, accused the provincial government of ignoring court orders and constitutional obligations, alleging adherence to directives from former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The opposition’s petition for contempt of court proceedings against the KP Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker highlights the ongoing tensions between the judiciary and legislative bodies in Pakistan.
Despite the legal turmoil, several candidates secured their Senate seats unopposed, reshaping the Senate’s composition, which consists of 96 lawmakers, with 48 seats contested this year.
The Senate’s structure, with 23 members from each federating unit and four from Islamabad, reflects the diverse representation of Pakistan’s provinces. The recent elections and legal challenges underscore the complex interplay of politics and law in the nation’s governance.
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