K-P opposition unites for Senate by-poll

Consensus candidate to be named within days

PESHAWAR:

In a significant show of unity, opposition parties in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have decided to field a consensus candidate for the lone vacant Senate seat from the province.

The decision was reached during a consultative meeting convened by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at the Mufti Mahmood Markaz in Peshawar. The meeting, presided over by JUI central leader Maulana Ataur Rehman, was attended by senior representatives from multiple opposition parties.

Participants included JUI leaders Maulana Ataul Haq Darvesh, Haji Dilawar Khan, Maulana Abdul Haseeb Haqqani, and Israr Ahmed; Pakistan Peoples Party's Syed Ayub Shah; Awami National Party's Hussain Shah and Nisar Baz Mohmand; PML-N's Murtaza Abbasi and Malik Zarwar Khan; and PTI Parliamentarians' Habib Ali Shah, Arif Mohmand, and Arbab Wasim.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Maulana Ataul Haq Darvesh said the parties held detailed consultations on fielding a joint candidate for the Senate by-election. All attendees agreed that since the opposition parties are already united on a single platform in the provincial assembly, they should adopt a similar coordinated approach for the Senate seat.

The meeting resolved that the name of the joint candidate would be announced within the next two days following consultations with the parliamentary parties and provincial leaders of the respective groups.

The development comes as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly prepares for the by-poll to fill the vacant general seat in the upper house of parliament.