Senate elections: Ishaq Dar, Aurangzeb, Faisal Vawda become Senators

Ishaq Dar, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Faisal Vawda were among those elected as Senators on Tuesday after polling held on vacant Senate seats in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures of Punjab and Sindh, Aaj News reported.

Polling started at 9am and concluded at 4pm in the NA, Punjab, and Sindh assemblies.

However, elections were postponed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) due to a stand-off between the provincial government and opposition over the oath-taking of MPAs-elect on reserved seats.

With 59 candidates in the run for polls, the lawmakers from three provincial legislatures- Punjab, Sindh and KPK and those from the National Assembly, voted on the respective seats.

From Islamabad, Rana Mehmood ul Hassan, with the support of the government’s coalition, bagged the general seat. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar won the technocrat seat.

From Sindh, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) won 10 seats, followed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) with one seat. Independent candidate Faisal Vawda also won a Senate seat in the province.

From Punjab, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and PML-N’s Musadik Malik won the technocrat seat. On women’s seats, Anusha Rehman and Bushra Butt from PML-N won the elections.

ECP finalises arrangements for April 2 Senate elections

With the election of senators in all the eleven seats of Balochistan and those of seven general seats of Punjab unopposed, the elections were held on five seats of Punjab, 12 seats of Sindh, 11 seats of KPK and two seats of Islamabad.

Of them, two women and technocrat seats each, and one minorities seat of Punjab, seven general seats, two women and technocrats seats each, and one minorities seat of Sindh, seven general seats, two women and technocrats seats each of KP, and a general and technocrat seats each of Islamabad had polls.

PM Shehbaz felicitates newly elected Senators

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated the recently elected senators and extended his well-wishes.

In his congratulatory message, the premier said the Senate election was the continuation of the democratic process.

He hoped that senators would play their role in the uplift of the constitution and the development of the country.

Newly elected senators should participate in effective legislation for public welfare and national development and prosperity, he said.

He also highlighted that the role of senators was very important for the strengthening of federal units and the observance of democratic values.