BAP's Sarfaraz Bugti elected senator

pledges to become the voice of the province

QUETTA: Sarfaraz Bugti of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) on Wednesday won a vacant general seat in the Senate, bagging 37 votes of the 57 votes polled.

Rehmatullah Kakar of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) secured 20 votes despite the support of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal.

Two independent candidates – Ghulam Dastagir Badini and former caretaker chief minister Allauddin Marri – were polled no votes. Amir Rind, another candidate, withdrew from the election before the polling started.

The polling started at 9am and continued till 4pm, with the first vote being cast by BAP’s Dinesh Kumar. A total of 57 lawmakers in the 61-strong Balochistan Assembly cast their votes, including Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan.

The result was announced by Provincial Election Commissioner Niaz Ahmed Baloch, who was performing duties as returning officer.

The provincial seat in the Senate had been vacated by Mir Naimatullah Zehri after he was elected as MPA from PB-36 Shaheed Sikandarabad in the general election 2018. Zehri had later joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Meanwhile, after winning the Senate election, Sarfaraz Bugti said that he would represent the people of Balochistan and become their voice at the constitutional forum. He lauded the support of the parties that voted in his favour.

Bugti said that the federal government should review its decision to discontinue the development funds, adding that he would use the floor of the Senate to raise voice for provincial development.

The PTI had withdrawn its nominated Senate candidate in favour of BAP.