Pakistan ruling coalition sweeps Senate elections
Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s ruling coalition on Tuesday swept the Senate elections for 19 seats while the polling was postponed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over a dispute in the swearing-in of Opposition members elected to reserved seats, Dawn reported.
Of the 19 seats for which polling was held on Tuesday, the Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz (PML-N) bagged six seats, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won 11 while the Muttahida Quami Movement-pakistan (MQM-P) won a lone seat, Dawn reported citing unofficial figures.
The PML-N’S numbers in the 96-member House have now risen to 19 while the PPP’S are now up to 24. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) has 20 members in the Senate.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the successful senators, saying the polls were a continuation of the democratic process.
“It is hoped that senators will play their role for the upliftment of the Constitution and the development of the country. Newly elected senators should participate in effective legislation for public welfare and national development and prosperity,” the PM said.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz posted: “All
PML-N senators elected. Congratulations to all.”
She expressed hope that the senators would work diligently for the development of the country and the promotion of democracy.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also congratulated her party’s winning candidates, saying there was a lot of work ahead.
Elections were not held in Balochistan as the lawmakers were elected unopposed on 11 vacant seats last month.
Adding to the list of winning members, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar won on a technocrat seat from Islamabad, garnering 222 votes while Sunni Ittehad
Council’s (SIC) Raja Ansar Mehmood came second with 81.
Meanwhile, PPP’S Rana Mehmoodul Hassan secured 224 votes to win the general seat in Islamabad while PTI’S Farzand Hussain Shah garnered 79 votes.
In Punjab, all seven candidates vying for the general seats in Punjab were elected unopposed at the end of March. The polling was held on two women and technocrat seats each, as well as one minority seat.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Petroleum Minister Musadiq Malik were successful on the two technocrat seats, garnering 128 and 121 votes, respectively.
In Punjab, PML-N’S Anusha Rehman and Bushra Anjum won two seats reserved for women, garnering 125 and 123 votes, respectively. PML-N’S Khalil Tahir Sindhu recorded a win on a minority seat, Dawn reported.