PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah has been elected Senator in the by-election for the vacant Senate seat in Punjab. The Senate seat fell vacant after the disqualification of PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhry. Rana Sanaullah secured victory with 250 votes. Polling was held from 9 am to 4 pm, during which 251 votes were cast, with one vote rejected. 

The polling took place in the new Punjab Assembly building. Rana Sanaullah was the candidate backed by PML-N and government allies, while the opposition had nominated Ejaz Chaudhry’s wife, Salma Ejaz. According to the spokesperson for the Punjab Election Commissioner, a candidate required 181.5 votes to win. PML-N claimed support of 263 votes for Rana Sanaullah, while opposition candidate Salma Ejaz reportedly had the backing of 100 votes. 

Before polling, Election Commission staff arrived at the Assembly to finalize arrangements. The opposition had announced a boycott of the election. Deputy Opposition Leader Moin Qureshi warned that any member casting a vote would violate party policy, adding that withdrawing nomination papers was not possible as the deadline had passed. 

The Punjab Assembly has a total of 371 members, of which 363 are currently active, while 8 seats remain vacant. Six PTI members were disqualified, and two have yet to take oath. In the Assembly, PML-N holds 229 votes, PPP 16, IPP 7, and PML-Q 11. On the opposition side, Sunni Ittehad Council has 73 votes, PTI 24, while TLP, PML-Zia, and MWM have one vote each. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)