ISLAMABAD: Rana Sanaullah of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been declared the winner of the Punjab Senate seat, securing a total of 250 votes out of 251 cast, with one vote being rejected. The voting process took place during a session of the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday, which was boycotted by the Opposition’s PTI members.
The polling commenced at 9 am and continued until 4 pm, following the vacancy created after PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry was disqualified due to his conviction related to the May 9 riots. The Election Commission officials, including Punjab’s Election Commissioner Sharifullah, oversaw the process within the Punjab Assembly building, which was designated as the polling station.
Rana Sanaullah, a senior adviser to the Prime Minister, stated in Lahore that the political journey of PTI has effectively ended, asserting that the public has recognized the party’s true nature. He criticized PTI for fostering a culture of hostility and condemned the current conduct of its supporters. Sanaullah emphasized that the government remains committed to the rule of law and refuses to engage in dialogue with groups lacking political integrity.
The opposition nominated Salma Ijaz, wife of the disqualified PTI senator, as their candidate. She garnered support from approximately 100 members, including 73 votes from the Sunni Ittehad Council, 24 from PTI, and one each from Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Muslim League Zia, and Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen. Despite her nomination, the opposition announced a complete boycott of the voting process, with the members refusing to participate. However, her nomination remained valid since the withdrawal deadline had passed, and her supporters’ votes were counted.
The current strength of the Punjab Assembly stands at 363 members, with eight seats vacant. Six opposition members have been disqualified, one has yet to take oath, and one seat remains under legal review. To win the seat, a candidate needs at least 180 votes.
