Rana Sana wins Senate by-election from Punjab

Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) candidate Rana Sanaullah wins Senate by-election from Punjab seat. He obtained 250 votes. The one vote was rejected as total 251 votes were cast, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Earlier voting started in Punjab Assembly for an empty Senate seat on Tuesday with lawmakers exercising their right during the session boycotted by Opposition’s PTI.

Adviser to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan says political career of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has come to an end and people have recognized their true faces. Talking to newsmen in Lahore on Tuesday, he said PTI promoted a culture of abuse and that the current behaviour of its workers is deeply regrettable. He said there can be no dialogue with those groups whose members have no political character. He emphasized the government firmly believes in the rule of law.

Earlier, the polling in Senate by-election was started at 9 am and will continue until 4 pm. The seat fell vacant after PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry was disqualified following his conviction in May 9 riots case by a court of law. Earlier, Election Commission staff has reached the Punjab Assembly and Election Commissioner Punjab Sharifullah was supervising the voting process for the general seat.

The Punjab Assembly House has been given the status of a polling station. Rana Sanaullah is the candidate from the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and the government coalition parties.

Salma Ijaz, wife of Ijaz Chaudhry, has submitted her nomination papers from the opposition. However, the opposition has announced a boycott of the election process. The opposition will not be a part of the voting in today's election. About 180 votes are required to win the Senate election. The current total number of members in the Punjab Assembly is 363, while eight seats are vacant. Six opposition members were disqualified, while one member has not yet taken the oath, and the matter of one seat is in court. 

Opposition’s candidate boycotts

The opposition nominated Salma Ejaz, wife of the disqualified PTI senator, for the seat. She had the support of 100 votes, including 73 from the Sunni Ittehad Council, 24 from PTI, and one each from Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Muslim League Zia, and Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen.

However, the opposition later announced a boycott of the process. Despite this, her nomination papers remained valid since the withdrawal period had expired. Deputy Opposition Leader Moin Qureshi warned PTI members not to vote, stating that participation would violate party policy.