Pakistan's senate elections discussion thread

[The Bald Eagle]

Molana back to his power politics​

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PPP, JUI-F reach agreement over Senate by-poll on March 14​

The PPP and JUI-F have reached an agreement over supporting each other’s candidates in the upcoming Senate by-election on March 14.

Addressing a press conference today alongside former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and PPP leader Nayyar Bukhari, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi termed the meeting with PPP “a good improvement on the political front”.

“When Gilani sahab contests the polls, we will support him,” he said, adding that this way JUI-F members can enter the parliament without a contest.

On the occasion, Gilani welcomed the understanding reached with JUI-F for the Senate by-poll, saying that a “good working relationship was established in the parliament and we will vote for each other”.

Towards the end of the presser, PPP leader Bukhari clarified that the conversation between the two parties was only about the March 14 by-election. There will be a by-election on one seat on that day.

According to the understanding, the PPP will vote for the JUI-F candidate in Balochistan while the latter will vote for Gilani in Islamabad.

Source: Dawn News

 

[BouncerGuy]

Polling underway for six vacant Senate seats

The polling for by-elections on six vacant Senate is underway on Thursday at the Parliament House in Islamabad and will conclude at 4pm.

Elections are being held on one seat from Islamabad, two from Sindh and three from Balochistan, 311 members of the National Assembly who took oath will vote for the Senate seats. Zafar Iqbal has been appointed the returning officer for that NA.

However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) finds itself on the sidelines of the Senate elections, once again grappling with the loss of its electoral symbol in the parliamentary realm.

As per the dictates of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), only parties with electoral symbols are eligible to partake in the Senate polls, adhering to the same rules governing general elections.

With the ‘bat’ symbol out of reach, PTI's Senate dreams hang in the balance and its hopefuls will once again contest as independents. However, members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) are poised to throw their weight behind PTI's independent contenders.

The party has finalised two new names vying for Senate seats, according to insider sources. PTI has set its sights on Zulfi Bukhari, marking him as a contender for a coveted Senate position. In addition, the party has earmarked a Senate ticket for Hamid Khan, a stalwart and founding member of the PTI.

The polling for the by-elections will be held in the NA, Sindh Assembly and Balochistan Assembly. The seats fell vacant after the resignation of six senators.

In the NA, the contest is between Ilyas Mehrban of the SIC and Yousaf Raza Gilani of the PPP. For the seats in Sindh, PPP's Jam Saifullah Dharejo and Muhammad Aslam Abro are competing against SIC's Nazirullah and Shazia Sohail.

For the three vacant seats of Balochistan, PPP has issued tickets to Abdul Qudus Bizenjo, Tariq Hussain Bugto and Shakeel Durrani. The PML-N has fielded Domki and JUI has fielded Abdul Shakur. The two independent candidates are Hibyar Domki and Syed Mehmood Shah.

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE

 

[The Bald Eagle]

PPP’s Saifullah Dharejo, Aslam Abro elected as senators from Sindh​

The returning officer for the Senate by-election in Sindh, Sharifullah, has announced the result of the polls held on two vacant seats in the Sindh Assembly and declared PPP’s Jam Saifullah Dharejo and Aslam Abro as winners, APP reports.

According to the result, Dharejo secured 58 and Aslam Abro obtained 57 votes while Sunni Ittehad Council candidates Nazirullah and Shazia Sohail secured only 4 votes each.

Source: Dawn News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Potential New Chairman Senate​

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PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gilani clinches Senate seat from Islamabad​

Gains 204 votes against 88 votes of Sunni Ittehad Council’s candidate Chaudhary Ilyas Mehrban; PPP clinches 2 Senate seats from Sindh.

Source: Dawn News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

​

PPP’s Bizenjo, PML-N’s Dostain of PML-N, JUI’s Ghibzai won Senate seats from Balochistan​

PPP’s Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, PML-N’s Dostain Domki and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam’d Abdul Shakoor Ghibzai have been elected senators in the polling held for three vacant seats of the Senate of Pakistan, APP reports.

The polling for by-elections on three vacant Senate seats of Balochistan was held at the Balochistan Assembly.

As many as 61 parliamentarians exercised their right to choose the senators for the upper house.
As per results announced by the election commission, Bizenjo obtained 23 votes, Domki clinched 17 votes and Ghibzai 16.

Source: Dawn News

 

[BouncerGuy]

Senate elections to be held in KP assembly on April 2

The provincial election commissioner on Thursday issued a public notice announcing the schedule for the forthcoming Senate elections in the province.

The PEC, Shamshad Ahmad, is the returning officer for the polls for filling the Senate vacant seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for which polling will be held in the KP Assembly on April 2.

The PEC called upon the members of the KP Assembly to elect members against seven general seats, and two seats each reserved for women and technocrats including ulema from KP province.

According to the public notice, nomination papers will be filed with the returning officer on March 15 and 16 following which names of nominated candidates will be published on March 17.

Last date for scrutiny of the nomination papers will be Mar 19, whereas the last date for filing appeals against acceptance or rejection of papers will be on March 21.

Last date for disposal of appeals will be Mar 25 after which revised lists of candidates will be published on March 26.

Nomination papers could be withdrawn by a candidate till March 27.

These seats have fallen vacant after completion of tenure of the then incumbents on March 11, 2024.

Those who completed their term on general seats include: Bahramand Khan Tanghi (PPPP), Faisal Javed Khan (PTI), Fida Mohammad (PTI), Pir Syed Mohammad Sabir Shah (PML-N), Mohammad Talha Mahmood (JUI-F) and Mushtaq Ahmad (Jamaat-i-Islami).

Two senators on women seats who completed their terms include Dr Mehr Taj Roghani (PTI) and Rubina Khalid (PPPP). Similarly, Azam Khan Swati (PTI) and Dilawar Khan (independent) completed their tenure against seats reserved for technocrats.

SOURCE: DAWN

 

[The Bald Eagle]

PPP forms 4-member body in KP for talks with other parties on Senate polls

The PPP has constituted a committee for negotiations with other political parties for Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a post on X, it said the body comprised Syed Khursheed Shah, Faisal Karim Kundi, Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha and Shuja Khan.

Source: Dawn News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

What a mockery of Pak constitution​

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Info minister disputes PTI leaders’ assertions on Senate candidature​

PTI has cast fresh doubts on the participation of individuals who were members of the caretaker set-up in the upcoming Senate polls, saying that the Constitution does not allow it.

In a post on social media platform X, PTI-backed MNA Ali Mohammad Khan claimed that a minister, chief minister or prime minister of the interim caretaker set-up cannot contest elections which they supervised. Khan cited Article 224(1B) of the Constitution in support of his claim.

However, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar rejected the PTI leaders’ contentions.

When contacted, Tarar told Dawn that Article 224(1B) did not apply to the caretakers contesting the upcoming Senate elections as the article bars them from becoming a member of the first assembly to be elected after the interim set-up.

He quoted the example of PTI leader Ali Zafar, saying he had been elected to the Senate soon after he served as caretaker law minister in 2018. “In fact, the PTI leader has wrongly interpreted Article 224 as his claim has no relevance with the said article,” the minister added.

Source : Dawn News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

‘N’ picks outsiders, PTI pushes hawks for Senate polls

ISLAMABAD: Nominations for the 48 Senate seats up for grabs came as a bolt from the blue, with the ruling PML-N supporting “outsiders” and the PTI choosing hawks for the upper house elections scheduled for April 2.

Those who submitted nomination papers to send shockwaves within the party include former caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, former Punjab caretaker chief minister and sitting Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Finance Minister Aurangzeb Khan, former adviser to prime minister Ahad Cheema, and Mustafa Ramday, son of former chief justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday.

The submission of nomination papers by these individuals were surprising for the public and disturbing for many in the party.

A PML-N leader told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the decision to bring in outsiders at the cost of loyalists was shocking for many. “There is a strong resentment within the party over the decision,” he said.

He said the party this time deviated from the tradition of inviting applications from the candidates and all the arrangements had been made behind the scenes. He said prominent PML-N figures who have been ignored include Khawaja Saad Rafique, Rana Sanaullah, Khurram Dastgir and Javed Latif.

On behalf of ex-PM Kakar, Senator Danesh Kumar submitted the nomination papers for a general seat from Balochistan. The members of the Balochistan Assembly will on April 2 elect 11 senators — seven for general seats, two for women, and two technocrats.

Punjab

In all, 22 candidates of different parties filed their nomination for Senate elections from Punjab until Saturday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said.

Mr Naqvi, Mr Aurangzeb and Mr Cheema are set to become senators with the support of PML-N and its allies. Interestingly, none of the three showed any intention to join the Sharifs’ party.

“The PML-N leadership has directed its lawmakers to vote for them while its allied parties have also assured these three of their support to get them elected from Punjab,” a PML-N insider said.

He said the Sharifs did not seek applications from the party persons for the Senate polls “out of embarrassment”, knowing that they had to adjust “outsiders” on the direction of the powers that be.

Although Mohsin Naqvi’s name was proposed for a general seat in the Senate, he preferred to file the nomination papers as an independent candidate. Mr Aurangzeb and Mr Cheema followed suit, with the former filing papers as a technocrat and the latter on a general seat.

Mustafa Ramday filed papers for a technocrat seat as a PML-N candidate. Pervaiz Rashid, a Sharifs’ loyalist who was ousted from the Senate election race three years ago for different reasons, finally got the chance to submit papers on a general seat. Anusha Rahman has submitted papers for woman’s seat.

Punjab Minister for Human Rights Tahir Khalil Sandhu filed papers for a minority seat. Musadik Malik submitted nomination papers for general as well as for technocrat seats. Sharif’s close aide Nasir Mehmood Butt and PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry submitted their papers on a general seat.

On the other hand, PTI leaders Hamid Khan and Zulfi Bukhari are vying for general seats. Incarcerated PTI leaders Sanam Javed and Dr Yasmin Rashid submitted papers on woman and technocrat seats, respectively. Raja Nasir Abbas of the MWM has also filed papers.

‘N’ picks outsiders, PTI pushes hawks for Senate polls

22 including Naqvi, Aurangzeb submit nomination papers from Punjab; PTI's Zulfi Bukhari, Yasmin Rashid, Sanam Javed and MWM chief also in the race.

www.dawn.com

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Another sham elections coming
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The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued the Form 52 for those who had submitted their nomination papers for the Senate elections slated for April 2.

The details of candidates for two general and two technocrat seats from Islamabad have been released.
The names issued for the general seats from Islamabad are PML-N’s Rana Mehmood-ul-Hassan and Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) Farzand Hussain Shah.

For the technocrat seats from Islamabad, the names include PML-N’s Ishaq Dar and SIC’s Raja Ansar Mehmood Gilani.

The PML-N and PPP had reached a seat-adjustment agreement for the two Senate seats from Islamabad.

A total of 52 seats in the upper house of parliament will become vacant, but elections will only be held for 48 senators.

The reduction is because of the abolition of four reserved seats for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) following the 25th Constitutional Amendment that merged them with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The members of the National Assembly will elect one general seat and one technocrat seat (including Ulema) from the federal capital.

In preparation for the upcoming elections, the ECP has appointed returning officers (ROs) for Islamabad and the four provinces.

Saeed Gul, the director general (training of the ECP, will serve as the RO in the federal capital.
Separately, the ECP has announced the polling date had been changed at six polling stations in PB-50 Killa Abdullah.

It said on the Balochistan government’s request, polling will be held on March 28 at the six polling stations of PB-50.

Earlier, polling was scheduled on March 19.

The ECP has ordered the ROs concerned to supervise security and other arrangements.

According to the commission, polling will be held from 8am to 4pm.

ANP’s Zamrak Khan had won from PB-50, but the results were challenged by the runner-up, JUI-F’s Muhammad Nawaz.

Following the JUI-F candidate’s plea, the ECP had ordered polling to be conducted again at six polling stations of the constituency.

Source: Dawn News

 

[BouncerGuy]

Senate polls' second phase kicks off

The second phase of the Senate elections has kicked off nationwide, with returning officers initiating the process of scrutinising the candidates' credentials.

Commencing today, the scrutiny of nomination papers will span across today and tomorrow (Wednesday), ensuring a thorough assessment of candidates vying for Senate seats.Four candidates are contending for two seats in the federal capital, Islamabad.

The contenders include Ishaq Dar representing the coalition government on the technocrat seat, Advocate Raja Ansar Mahmood from the Sunni Ittehad Council, Rana Mehmoodul Hassan of the PPP contesting the general seat of Islamabad, and Farzand Hussain Shah representing the Sunni Ittehad Council.

Any appeals regarding the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers are slated for disposal by March 25, with the final list of candidates scheduled for display on March 27.

Polling for the Senate elections is set for April 2, preceded by the issuance of a revised candidate list on March 26 and a window for withdrawal of nomination papers until March 27.

In the federal capital, members of the National Assembly will cast their votes to elect senators for one general seat and one seat for technocrats, including Ulema.

Similarly, members of the four provincial assemblies will participate in the selection process, electing senators for various seats, including general, women, and technocrats, in accordance with provincial quotas.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 42 candidates have submitted their nomination papers, with 25 vying for general seats, 10 for technocrats and Ulema seats, and seven women candidates for reserved seats.

Meanwhile, the Balochistan election commission has released a preliminary list of candidates for the province's vacant Senate seats.

Among the 38 candidates whose nomination papers have been approved, 17 are competing for general seats, 13 for technocrat seats, and 8 for women's seats.

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE

 

[BouncerGuy]

34 allowed to contest Senate election from Sindh after scrutiny

As many as 34 candidates have been allowed to contest the April 2 Senate elections on 12 seats from Sindh after officials approved their nomination papers during scrutiny on Tuesday.

Thirty-five candidates belonging to the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-backed Sunni Ittehad Council and others had submitted their nomination papers before Sindh Election Commissioner Sharifullah, who is the returning officer, for 12 Senate seats — seven general, two each reserved for women and technocrats/ulema and one seat reserved for non-Muslims — from Sindh.

The officials said that 21 aspirants had filed papers for seven general seats, five for two technocrats/ulema seats, six for two women-reserved seats and three had applied for one seat reserved for minorities.

After securitising their nomination papers, the office of provincial election commissioner issued the list of qualified candidates that said that the papers of 34 candidates had been accepted.

However, the candidature of MQM-P’s Mohammad Najeeb Haroon, who had filed papers for a general seat, has been rejected.

Director-Elections Sajjad Khattak told Dawn that the nomination papers of Mr Haroon were rejected due to tax default and non-payment of a bank loan.

Those who are allowed to contest elections on general seats are: Mohammad Abu Bakar, Abdul Rauf Siddiqui, Shabbir Qaimkhani, Faisal Vawda, Amir Chishti, Humayun Sultan, Ashraf Jatoi, Syed Masroor Ahsan, Sarfaraz Rajpar, Nadeem Bhutto, Javed Ahmed Nayab, Dost Ali Jessar, Abdul Wahab, Ghanwer Khan Isran, Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamrah Aajiz, Ali Tahir, Mir Raja Khan Jakarani, Shahbaz Zaheer and Nighat Mirza.

On technocrats/ulema seats Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Sarmad Ali, Karim Ahmed Khawaja, Manzoor Bhutta and Abdul Wahab are in the run.

Qurat-ul-Ain Marri, Rubina Qaimkhani, Yasmin Dadabhoy, Musarrat Nazir Niazi, Sabina Perveen and Mehjabeen Riaz are vying for two women-reserved seats.

For one minority seat, nomination papers of Poonjo, Sadhumal Surendar Valasai and Bhagwandas have been accepted.

Polling for the 12 Senate seats from Sindh will be held on April 2 in the provincial assembly.

According to the schedule issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan, the last date for filing appeals against the decisions of the RO about acceptance/rejection of nomination papers is March 21; such appeals will be decided by an appellant tribunal, headed by Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry of the Sindh High Court, by March 25.

The candidates will have the option to withdraw their papers by March 27.

No differences with MQM-P, says Vawda

Former PTI senator Faisal Vawda has also filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate.

Interestingly, his nomination form was proposed by MQM-P lawmaker Ali Khurshidi and seconded by another MQM-P MPA Adil Askari.

There are reports that many senior leaders in the party were unhappy over Mr Vawda’s independent status as they wanted him to officially join the party before contesting the Senate polls.

However, a day before MQM-P leader Rauf Siddiqui told reporters that his party had offered Mr Vawda to join and he prayed that he would become part of their party.

He had said that everyone would accept the decision of the party regarding Mr Vawda’s candidature for Senate.

On Tuesday, Mr Vawda told reporters at the office of the Election Commission that he had good relations with the MQM-P.

He said that he had difference with the MQM-London.

“No one can endanger country’s integrity just for the sake of a revolution,” he said, adding that he saw more legal problems for Imran Khan.

SOURCE: DAWN

 

[BouncerGuy]

Papers of over 50 Senate aspirants approved

The provincial election commissioners of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) accepted the nomination papers of more than 50 candidates for the 32 Senate seats in the two provinces to be contested on April 2.

Punjab Election Commissioner Aijaz Anwar Chohan, accepted the nomination papers of 21 candidates for 12 Senate seats from the province – seven general, two reserved for women, two for technocrats, and one reserved for non-Muslims, after scrutiny.

In all, 28 candidates had filed the nomination papers with the provincial election commissioner, who is serving as the returning officer for the Senate Election. As per a lists issued by the provincial election commissioner, the papers of seven candidates were rejected.

Now, for the seven general seats, the candidates into the fray are: Walid Iqbal, Shahzad Waseem, Talal Badar, Ejaz Minhas, Mohsin Naqvi, Ahad Cheema, Pervaiz Rashid, Nasir Mehmood, Hamid Khan, Raja Nasir Abbas, Musadik Malik and Omar Sarfraz Cheema.

For two technocrat seats, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Mustafa Ramday, Yasmin Rashid, and Musadik Malik are in the contest. Faiza Ahmad, Anusha Rehman Ahmad Khan, and Bushra Anjum Butt are allowed to contest for the two women’s seats. Asif Ashiq and Khalil Tahir to vie of the moniriteis seat.

The nomination papers of Mian Najeebuddin Awaisi, Irfan Ahmad Khan Daha, Sayed Zulifkar Abbas Bukhari, and Khawaja Habibur Rehman were rejected for general seats. The papers of Surriya Naseem and Sanam Javed were rejected for women’s seats and of Tariq Javed for the minorities seat.

The K-P election commissioner declared the nomination papers of 30 candidates as valid for 11 seats – eight for technocrats seats, six for women seats and 18 for general seats, according to the list issued by the returning officer of the election.

The candidates, whose papers were approved are: Syed Arshad Hussain, Qazi Anwar, Waqar Qazi, Khalid Masood, Fazal Hanan, Dilawar Khan, Qalzar Khan, Noorul Haq Qadri, Irfan Saleem, Dilawar Khan, Mirza Afridi, Faisal Javed, Talha Mehmood, Azhar Mashwani, Niaz Ahmed, Waqas Orkazai, Fazal Hanan, Faizur Rehman, Attaul Haq, Fida Muhammad, Shafqat Ayaz, Asif Rafiq, Taj Mohammad Afridi and Noorul Haq Qadri, Mehvish Ali Khan, Ayesha Bano, Rubina Naaz, Begum Tahira Bukhari, Rubina Khalid, and Shazia.

Polling for the Senate seats will be held on April 2 in the respective provincial assemblies. According to the schedule, the last date for filing appeals against the decisions of the RO about acceptance/rejection of nomination papers would be March 21 (today).

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE

 

[BouncerGuy]

Nine make it to Senate unopposed

All seven candidates vying for the upper house of parliament on general seats from Punjab were elected unopposed following the withdrawal of nominations by five other candidates, apparently following a behind-the-scenes understanding among the country’s three major parties — the PML-N, PPP and PTI.

The development came on Wednesday, which was the last day for the withdrawal of nomination papers by Senate candidates for the elections scheduled to be held on April 2.

Four of those elected unopposed belong to the ruling PML-N, while two hail from PTI-Sunni Ittehad Council alliance. Besides, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who had filed the papers as an independent candidate with PML-N and PPP backing, was also returned unopposed.

The PML-N nominees were Federal Minister Ahad Cheema, Pervaiz Rashid, Nasir Mehmood and Talal Chaudhry, whereas Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen chief Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI stalwart Hamid Khan have been elected unopposed with the backing of the PTI.

As many as 16 aspirants had initially filed nominations for seven general seats in Punjab. Of them, four were rejected, while Musadik Malik of the PML-N and Waleed Iqbal, Dr Shahzad Waseem, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema and Ijaz Minhas of the PTI withdrew their papers on Wednesday.

When contacted, PTI’s information secretary Rauf Hasan confirmed to Dawn the behind-the-scene negotiations among the parties. He said the PPP and the PML-N had approached the PTI on the issue and Imran Khan had authorised a senior party leader to hold talks. However, the spokesperson refused to divulge who the negotiator was, and expressed ignorance about the outcome of the talks.

But since PTI candidates are still in the race for reserved seats for technocrats, women and minorities, it shows that whatever understanding was reached was limited to general seats.

Three candidates will now contest for two technocrat seats after the withdrawal of papers by Mustafa Ramday. The three-way contest will feature Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb and Musadik Malik of the PML-N and Dr Yasmin Rashid of the PTI.

PPP’s Faiza Ahmed, Anusha Rahman, PML-N’s Bushra Anjum and PTI’s Sanam Javed are in the race for the two women’s seats, while Khalil Tahir of PML-N and Asif Ashiq of PTI are vying for the minority seat.

Sindh

Following the withdrawal of papers by 14 candidates, 21 candidates are vying for 12 Senate seats from Sindh.

Of the aspirants, 12 have submitted party tickets and nine others are running as independents.

According to a list issued by the election commissioner, the candidates on the general seats are Faisal Vawda, Amir Chishti, Ashraf Jatoi, Syed Mansoor Ahsan, Jeean Khan Sarfaraz Rajpar, Nadeem Bhutto, Dost Ali Jessar, Abdul Wahab, Ali Tahir, Mir Raja Jakarani, Kazim Ali Shah and Shahbaz Zaheer.

Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Sarmad Ali, Manzoor Bhutta and Abdul Wahab are contesting for two seats reserved for technocrats/Ulema. Quratul Ain Marri, Rubina Qaimkhani and Mehjabeen Riaz are in the run for two women’s seats, while Poonjo and Bhagwan Das are vying for the only non-Muslim seat.

The 14 candidates who withdrew their papers on the last day are Najeeb Haroon, Rauf Siddiqui, Mukhtiar Ahmed Damrah Aajiz, Shabbir Qaimkhani, Abu Bakar, Ghanwer Ali Khan Isran, Nighat Mirza, Humayun Sultan and Javed Ahmed (general seats); Karim Ahmed Khawaja for the technocrat seat; Yasmin Dadbhoy, Musarrat Nazir and Sabina Perveen on women’s seats and Sadhumal Surendar Valasai for a non-Muslim seat.

Interestingly, Mr Vawda filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate and two MQM-P lawmakers had proposed and seconded his candidature.

Balochistan

As many as 13 candidates will contest for 11 Senate seats from Balochistan after the withdrawal of 20 candidates on Wednesday.

The coalition partners of the Balochistan government, including PPP, PML-N and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) had finalised a list of 11 candidates for unopposed election.

According to the final list, there are eight candidates vying for seven general seats from the province: Saydal Nasar and Agha Shahzeb Durrani of the PML-N, Sardar Umar Gorgage of the PPP, Ejaz Ahmed and Jan Muhammad Buledi of the National Party, Aimal Wali Khan of the ANP, Ahmed Khan Khilji of the JUI-F and former caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar (independent).

On two technocrat seats, there are three candidates: Bilal Khan Mandokhail (PPP), Maulana Abdul Wasey (JUI-F) and Masleh-ud-Din (PML-N). However, after the withdrawal of papers by five candidates on two women seats, Rahat Faiq Jamali of the PML-N and Husana Bibi of the PPP are expected to be elected unopposed.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

As many as six aspirants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday withdrew their candidature from Senate elections..

Those who withdrew their papers include Taj Afridi, Qazi Anwar, Ms Shazia, Qezar Khan, Fida Muhammad and Fazal Hanan.

According to the final list of the candidates, there are 16 candidates vying for seven general seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The list contains the name of former senator Talha Mehmood, who announced he was joining the PPP after quitting the JUI-F just a day earlier.

PPP information secretary Faisal Karim Kundi in a statement on Wednesday stated that party’s nominees Fida Muhammad Khan and Qaizar Khan Miankhel had withdrawn from the Senate elections “for the sake of party’s interests on the directions of the PPP leadership.”

Other candidates on the general seats from KP are Attaul Haq of the JUI-F and Niaz Ahmed of the PML-N, besides 13 independents, mostly those nominated by the PTI.

Prominent among them are Azam Swati, Faisal Javed Khan, Murad Saeed, former Senate deputy chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Noorul Haq Qadri, Khurram Zeeshan, Azhar Mashwani and Dilawar Khan.

Islamabad

The returning officer for the Senate election on the two seats from Islamabad on Wednesday revealed the final list of four candidates.

Farzand Hussain Shah of the SIC and Rana Mehmoodul Hassan of the PPP are the candidates for the general seat whereas Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar of the PML-N and Raja Ansar Mehmood of the SIC are vying for the technocrat seat from the federal capital.

SOURCE: DAWN

 

[The Bald Eagle]

PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari withdrew his nomination for the upcoming Senate elections on Saturday, citing legal obstacles surrounding the confirmation of his nomination papers.

Bukhari claimed his nomination faced "false and illegal hurdles," despite possessing the required legal documentation. While his lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, expressed optimism about a legal victory, Bukhari opted to withdraw his nomination to avoid potential repercussions of challenging the confirmations of fellow PTI nominees, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Hamid Khan.

In a statement posted on X, Bukhari stated, "Challenging their notifications could create internal friction within the party," emphasising his unwavering loyalty to PTI and prioritising party unity.

A longstanding PTI member, Bukhari emphasised that personal ambitions pale in comparison to the party’s success. He declared, "Senate seats or any positions hold little meaning compared to serving our nation and achieving freedom."

Bukhari extended congratulations to Allama Nasir Abbas, who will now fill the Senate seat, praising Abbas’s steadfast support for former prime minister Imran Khan and expressing confidence in his ability to effectively represent the party in the Senate.

PTI’s Zulfi withdraws Senate nomination | The Express Tribune

Alleges hurdles aimed at hindering his candidacy

tribune.com.pk

 

[UP]

You mean selection?

 

[BouncerGuy]

Senate polls under way except in KP amid oath-taking dispute

Elections on 30 vacant Senate seats are currently under way in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures of Punjab and Sindh.

Elections are not being held in Balochistan as lawmakers on the vacant seats there had been elected unopposed. However, the dispute over the swearing-in of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s opposition members elected to reserved seats is still far from resolved.

Polling did not begin in KP at 9am as scheduled and around two hours later, was postponed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) “on account of delay of oaths of reserved seats”.

KP election commissioner Shamshad Khan reached the assembly and sought a list of the sworn-in MPAs from the assembly staff. Meanwhile, the opposition petitioned the ECP to postpone the Senate elections there.

Subsequently, the ECP issued a notification of the poll postponement, which referred to its March order wherein it had rejected a petition filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council — the new face of the PTI — seeking the allocation of reserved seats.

Recalling that the Peshawar High Court (PHC) had upheld its decision, the ECP noted that “no arrangement for oath was made”. It added that the RO for the Senate polls informed the electoral watchdog today that assembly speaker Babar Saleem Swati had still “not arranged oath”.

Last week, the ECP had hinted at postponing the Senate elections for KP if Swati kept on delaying their oath-taking. The speaker had filed a review petition yesterday against the PHC order wherein it had directed him to administer oaths to 25 opposition MPAs elected to reserved seats.

“The commission is of the considered view that the standards of honesty, justness and fairness of election as provided in Article 218(3) of the Constitution cannot be fulfilled due to non-administration of oath to elected members and which amounts to disenfranchisement of lawful voters and denial of level playing field to the voters,” the ECP said.

Stating that the electoral college was “incomplete”, the ECP postponed the elections till the administration of oaths to the MPAs-elect on reserved seats under Article 218(3) of the Constitution read with Section 4(1), Section 8(c) and Section 128 of the Elections Act, 2017.

As many as 59 candidates are contesting the Senate polls after 18 were elected unopposed from Punjab and Balochistan. According to state-run Radio Pakistan, the ECP had finalised all preparations for the polls.

Polling in the NA and the provincial assemblies in Sindh and Punjab started at 9am and is set to conclude at 4pm. In Islamabad, polling began at the NA hall for the election of two senators.

Ballot papers in four different colours have been printed — white papers will be used for general seats, green for technocrat seats, pink for women, and yellow for minority seats.

The Senate became dysfunctional on March 11 following the retirement of 52 lawmakers. The elections are likely to see parties in the ruling coalition — the PML-N and PPP — move closer to a two-thirds majority in the upper house of parliament.

The opposition PTI will likely maintain its position as the single largest party in the new house, but it will be in no position to hamper the government’s legislative business.

Punjab, Sindh

In Punjab, voting is being held on two women and technocrats seats each and one minority seat of women in the province.

Provincial election commissioner Ejaz Anwar Chohan, who would serve as the returning officer (RO), and assembly secretary Aamir Habib reached the assembly to review the polling arrangements. MPA Bilal Yameen from PP-6 cast the first vote.

Speaking to reporters at the assembly, speaker Malik Ahmed Khan expressed hope that the PML-N would win all the vacant seats from Punjab. He further said that coalition partner PPP was supporting his party in the elections.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who the PML-N has nominated for a technocrat seat, also reached the Punjab Assembly. Speaking to reporters, he expressed his “full optimism” for being successful in the election.

In Sindh, 19 candidates are contesting for 12 seats including seven general seats, two women, two technocrats/Ulema and one minority seat in the province.

Elected unopposed

Those who have made their way to the upper house of parliament unopposed include PML-N’s Syedal Nasir and Shahzeb Durrani, PPP’s Sardar Umar Gorgej, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Ahmed Khan and Awami National Party’s (ANP) Aimal Khan on general seats in Balochistan.

Likewise, National Party’s Jan Muhammad, former caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar who contested as an independent, PPP’s Hasana Bano and PML-N’s Rahat Jamali were also elected unopposed.

PPP’s Bilal Ahmed Khan and JUI-F’s Maulana Wasay have won two seats reserved for ulema/technocrats in Balochistan.

Similarly, seven members from Punjab were among those who won unopposed in the Senate elections. Elections were to be held on a total of 12 seats in Punjab, out of which seven are general seats and candidates have won all these seven seats unopposed.

They include Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi (independent) who has served as caretaker Punjab chief minister, and PML-N’s Pervaiz Rashid, Ahad Cheema, Talal Chaudhry, and Nasir Mehmood. Other successful candidates are Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen’s (MWM) Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI’s Hamid Khan.

Senate composition

The Senate consists of 96 lawmakers. However, only 48 seats were up for grabs this year — 12 each from Punjab and Sindh, 11 each from KP and Balochistan and two from Islamabad — as half of the senators are elected at one time, and the other half three years later.

Each senator serves a term of six years, barring resignation, disqualification or other extraordinary circumstances.

The Senate comprises 23 members each from the four federating units and four from Islamabad. The 23 seats allocated to a province comprise 14 general seats, four reserved for women, four for technocrats and one for minority members.

The ECP said that in all, 147 candidates had filed nomination papers for 48 Senate seats, of whom 18 had been elected unopposed. They include seven each against general seats from Punjab and Balochistan and two each against reserved seats for women and technocrats from Balochistan. That means there will be no election in Balochistan.

As many as 11 candidates are vying for seven general seats from Sindh. Three candidates are in the run for two seats reserved for women, four for two seats reserved for technocrats and two for one seat reserved for minorities from the province.

In Punjab, where all the seven candidates against general seats have already been elected unopposed, three candidates are in the run for two seats reserved for technocrats, four for two reserved seats for women, and two candidates for one seat reserved for minorities.

As many as 16 candidates are contesting against seven general seats from KP. Six candidates are in the run for two seats reserved for technocrats and four for two seats reserved for women from the province.

Two candidates each are vying for a general and a technocrat seat from the federal capital.

SOURCE: DAWN

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Polling has ended for the election of members on 30 seats of the Senate for six years. There are 59 candidates running in the Upper House election.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was elected senator on the technocrat seat with 224 votes, while Raja Ansar got 81 votes. Moreover, five votes rejected, sources said.

PPP's Rana Mahmoodul Hasan was also elected senator with 224 votes. His opponent, Farzand Hussain, got 79 votes. A total of 310 votes were cast, and seven were rejected.

Independent candidate Faisal Vawda was also elected senator on a general seat, as was MQM's Aamir Chishti, PPP's Ashraf Ali Jatoi, Dost Ali Jaisar, PPP's Kazim Ali Shah, Masroor Hassan and Nadeem Bhutto.

Also successful were PPP's Sarmad Ali and Zameer Ghamro on the two technocrat seats. Rubina Qaimkhani and Quratul Ain Marri were elected on the two women's seats, PPP's Poonjo Bheel won the minority seat.

In Punjab, Muhammad Aurangzeb and Dr Musadik Malik were elected on the technocrat seat from the Punjab Assembly. Finance Minister Aurangzeb got 128 votes and Malik 121 votes. Dr Yasmin Rashid of the opposition PTI got 106 votes.

In Sindh Assembly, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independent candidates, as well as the Jamaat-e-Islami boycotted the elections. Out of the 12 seats from Sindh, the PPP won 10 seats in the Senate, MQM and independent candidate one each.

The National Assembly as well as the Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies had been turned into polling stations. In the National and provincial assemblies, voting commenced at the scheduled time of 9am, with the first ballot cast in the NA by PML-N MNA Saad Wasim.

Returning Officer Saeed Gul issued strict directives prohibiting the entry of visitors into the gallery, as the House had been turned into a polling station. He emphasised that only media personnel were allowed to observe the electoral process from the galleries.

"If there is an irrelevant person, remove them from the gallery," Gul instructed the assembly secretary.

Polling in all the assemblies ended.

Source: Samaa News

 

[BouncerGuy]

So PPP got what they wished for. Presidentship and senate chairmanship. Nice work Zardari sahib. All the economic failure blame goes to PMLN.
-----------------------------------------

PPP's Gillani secures Senate chairman slot uncontested

PPP's Yousuf Raza Gilani was elected unopposed to the coveted slot of Senate chairman on Tuesday after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) boycotted the elections for top positions.

PML-N's Sardar Syed All Khan was elected the deputy chairman. Earlier today, newly-elected members of the Senate were sworn in and took oath of office.

As the session commenced, Senate Secretary Qasim Samad Khan announced that the newly elected senators would take oath and then the session would resume to elect the chairman and deputy chairman of the upper house.

Senator Ishaq Dar acted as the presiding officer during the first session.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Yousuf Raza Gilani was expected ascend to the coveted Senate chairman position unopposed, thanks to a power-sharing deal with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as the upper house holds its first meeting today.

With PTI's boycott, Gilani, the joint candidate of the ruling coalition, finds himself with a clear path to the Senate throne. This victory would mark Gilani's ascent to a historic trifecta, having previously held the positions of National Assembly speaker and prime minister, now poised to add Senate chairman to his list of accolades.

Before seizing the reins of government, PML-N and PPPP inked a pact, divvying up key posts in a political barter. Under this arrangement, PPP retained the esteemed offices of the president, the Senate’s chairman, and deputy speaker of the National Assembly, alongside governorships in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In exchange, PML-N secured the coveted offices of prime minister, National Assembly speaker, deputy chairman Senate, and governorships in Sindh and Balochistan.

On Monday, PTI decided to boycott the elections of chairman and deputy chairman Senate on the grounds that the house is incomplete as Senate polls were postponed to the extent of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the newly-elected lawmakers on reserved seats were not allowed to take the oath.

Although PTI has distanced itself from the elections on key posts in the Senate, the numerical strength of the ruling alliance is more than enough to secure victory even if PTI had decided to contest elections on both positions.

In the house of 96 members, 85 senators have so far been elected as the Election Commission of Pakistan had postponed elections on 11 seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to the non-administration of oaths to members elected on the reserved seats.

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE

 

[FearlessRoar]

Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani receives ‘threat call’

Chairman Senate Yusuf Raza Gilani on Sunday reportedly received a threatening message from an unknown person on his mobile phone.

Following the threat call to the Chairman Senate, a case was registered against an unidentified individual in Cantt police station on the complaint of Ali Musa Gilani, son of Yusuf Raza Gilani.

According to the FIR, a threat call was made concerning Member of National Assembly Ali Musa Gilani, and the phone number was traced to Khanewal.

However, a team of police personnel including the CIA in charge under the leadership of SP Tahir Majeed initiated a series of raids for the immediate arrest of the accused involved in the incident.

It is pertinent to mention here that Yusuf Raza Gilani was elected unopposed as Chairman Senate on April 9, 2024, as no one had submitted nomination papers against him.

Similarly, Sardar Syed Khan of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) was uncontested elected as the Deputy Chairman Senate.

Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani receives 'threat call'

MULTAN: Chairman Senate Yusuf Raza Gilani on Sunday reportedly received a threatening message from an unknown person on his mobile phone. Following the

arynews.tv

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Senate elections: arrangement comes through as PTI wins 6 and opposition bags 5 seats in KP

The seat-adjustment arrangement between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and opposition arrangement came through in the Senate elections in the province on Monday — with the treasury winning six and the opposition bagging five seats, according to unofficial results.

The treasury and the joint opposition alliance had agreed on a seat-sharing formula under which six seats would go to the treasury, which has 92 members in the KP Assembly, and five seats to the opposition, which is 53-strong.

On Sunday, it emerged that what initially shaped up to be a three-way contest — among PTI, PTI “dissidents” and opposition lawmakers — turned out to be almost a two-way match after the size of PTI’s “disgruntled” faction was effectively reduced to just one candidate.

PTI’s Murad Saeed, Faisal Javed, Mirza Afridi and Noorul Haq Qadri were elected as senators on general seats, according to the unofficial results.

Murad Saeed received 26 votes, Mirza Afridi and Faisal Javed both bagged 22, and Noor-ul-Haq Qadri 21.

PTI’s Azam Swati was elected on a technocrat seat with 89 votes. Similarly, PTI’s Rubina Naz became a senator on a women’s seat with 89 votes.

Federal Minister for Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir Affairs and States and Frontier Regions Amir Muqam’s son Niaz Ahmed reached the upper house by with 18 votes on a general seat.

PPP’s Talha Mehmood bagged a Senate seat with 18 votes. PPP’s Rubina Khalid was elected as a senator on women’s seat with 52 votes.

JUI-F’s Attaul Haq won on a general seat and the party’s Dilawar Khan on a technocrat seat to become members of the upper house with 18 and 54 votes, respectively.

On Sunday, Twenty-five MPAs-elect of the KP opposition were sworn into office after KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi administered their oaths.

The oath-taking issue has risen once again after the recent redistribution of reserved seats in the wake of a verdict by the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench that effectively took away the seats from the PTI and declared other political parties eligible for them.

Earlier in the month, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) finally announced the schedule for the long-overdue Senate elections in KP, setting July 21 as the polling date.

The much-delayed but suspenseful exercise saw elections on 11 seats — seven general and two each reserved for women, ulema and technocrats.

Currently, the ruling coalition has 54 members in the 96-member Senate — 10 short of the two-thirds majority (64 seats).

A separate election for the seat vacated by Senator Sania Nishtar is scheduled for July 31.

According to an ECP statement, the Senate elections in KP were delayed due to an incomplete electoral college. The schedule was announced two days after 25 reserved seats — originally allocated to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) — were redistributed among parties, including PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, PTI-P and ANP.

The elections were earlier postponed in April 2024, exacerbating political uncertainty in the province. Polling for another Senate seat — vacated after the death of Professor Sajid Mir — will also take place on July 21.

Punjab Senate seat by-election won by PML-N’s Hafiz Abdul Kareem
The by-election on a vacant Senate seat in Punjab was won by PML-N’s Hafiz Abdul Kareem with 243 votes, according to official results from the ECP.

The PML-N had nominated the emir of the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, as its candidate for the seat, which fell vacant after the demise of Professor Mir.

The total available votes were 368, with 345 polled votes, of which valid votes were 342, while three were rejected.

In a speech after his victory, Kareem thanked God and mentioned that he was grateful to PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

“I thank Mian Nawaz Sharif, who always remained loyal to Jamiat Ahle Hadith,” Kareem said.

He added that he was also deeply grateful to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, whom he credited for his victory.

“She left work in the flood-affected areas and cast her vote for me,” Kareem said.

Source: The Express Tribune

 

[JaDed]

Pakistan has a weird election system.