PPP bags four seats in Senate by-polls
Yousaf Raza Gilani, the joint candidate of the ruling coalition, was re-elected as Senator on his own vacant seat from Islamabad. PHOTO: X/@NAofPakistan
The PPP bagged four seats while the PML-N and JUI-F won one each on Thursday in the by-elections for six vacant slots of the Senate.
The by-polls were held for one seat from Islamabad, two from Sindh and three from Balochistan.
A total of 301 lawmakers cast their votes in the National Assembly hall, which was declared a polling station for the Senate by-poll.
PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gilani, the joint candidate of the government coalition, was re-elected as a senator to his own vacated Islamabad seat by defeating Sunni Ittehad Council's (SIC) Ilyas Mehrban.
Gilani received 204 votes against the SIC candidate, who could fetch only 88.
Nine votes were rejected during the count.
The seat for which the by-election was had fallen vacant after Gilani was elected as an MNA in the general elections last month.
Gilani has been tipped for the Senate chairman's position.
A total of 124 votes were cast for two Senate seats in the Sindh Assembly, out of which 123 were declared valid.
PPP's Jam Saifullah Khan Dharejo and Muhammad Aslam Abro were elected to the Senate by obtaining 58 and 57 votes respectively.
Their rival candidates, SIC’s Nazeerullah and Shazia Sohail were only able to receive 4 votes each.
These two seats had fallen vacant after PPP senators Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and Jam Mehtab Dahar were elected to the Sindh Assembly in February 8 general polls.
Sindh Election Commissioner Sharifullah performed the duty of the returning officer in the provincial assembly.
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In the Balochistan Assembly, 61 votes were cast for the three general seats of the Senate from the province in the 65-member strong legislature.
Former Balochistan chief minister Mir Quddus Bizenjo secured victory in the Senate by-poll, marking a win for the PPP in the province. Bizenjo clinched the seat with 23 votes.
"Credit for my victory goes to President Asif Ali Zardari", Bizenjo told The Express Tribune after the election.
Joining him in the Senate are PML-N’s Dostain Khan Domki and JUI-F’s Shakoor Khan Ghabizai.
Domki, brother of former caretaker chief minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki, emerged victorious by bagging 17 votes while Ghabizai was elected with 16.
"I am thankful to all the lawmakers", Domki told reporters outside the Balochistan Assembly.
These three Senate seats fell vacant after senators Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of the JUI-F,
Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti and Prince Ahmad Umar Ahmadzai of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) became members of the NA and provincial legislature in the February 8 general elections.
With a turnout of 61 lawmakers, the election showcased a diverse political landscape, with Mobeen Khilji of the BAP securing five votes. The triumphant performance of the PPP, PML N, and JUI-F in the by-polls underscores the shifting dynamics within Balochistan's political arena.
The MQM-P and Jamaat-e-Islami boycotted the Senate by-elections.