PPP suffers setback in Punjab: PML-N wins 4 seats, PPP, PML-Q grab one each

Pakistan People's Party suffered a setback in Friday's Senate elections in Punjab, as one of its candidates lost to an independent unexpectedly. Polling to elect seven member on general seats to the Senate from the province was held at Punjab Assembly from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
As expected, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won four out of the seven seats, followed by PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) which won one seat each while independent candidate Mohsin Laghari also returned successful. PPP suffered setback as its candidate Aslam Gill lost to Mohsin Laghari in a close contest.
On reserved seats for women, technocrats/Ulema and minorities candidates of PML-N and PPP have already returned unopposed. In the 371-member House, which is electoral college of the Senate, two members Tahir Ali Javed (Forward Group) and Rana Babar (PPP) did not cast their votes, as they are reported to be out of the country. Another MPA (PPP) Asad Moazim did not come to cast his vote, as he had joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The PML-N candidates, who were elected as Senators include Zulfiqar Khosa, Zafrullah Khan, Muhammad Rafiq Rajvana and M. Hamza. Babar Awan of PPP and Kamil Ali Agha of PML-Q and independent candidate Mohsin Laghari also returned as Senators in the Friday's elections in Punjab.
On reserved seat for women Nuzhat Amir Sadiq of PML-N and Khalida Mohsin of PPP have already been elected unopposed, while on minorities' seat Kamran Michael of PML-N has returned unopposed. On two reserved seats for technocrat, PPP's Aitazaz Ahsan and PML-N's Ishaq Dar have been elected unopposed.
During the polling, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah PML-N MPA Yasin Suhail quarrelled over some issue, following which Suhail threatened to resign. However, the issue was settled later. Talking to journalists at Assembly's premises regarding the rigging allegations by opposition, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said that he would respond the allegations in the House. Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz said that by voting for the independent candidate PML-N flouted the principles Charter of Democracy.
Federal Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, who had came to the assembly, also criticised provincial government for what he said stealing democratic mandate. PPP leader Qamar-u-Zaman Kaira was also present in the Assembly, who stated that many obstacles were created to stop Senate's elections, but these were foiled by government successfully.
Barrister Aitizaz Ahsan talking to media rejected the impression that PPP was a lost force. He said that PPP accepted the results of Senate's elections. Federal Minister for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan talking to media at the Assembly's premises said that due to the Senate's elections democracy would flourish in the country. She said that by following the policy of reconciliation PPP was smoothly moving forward with its coalition partners. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif congratulated the new-elected PML-N's Senators and hoped they would play their due role for strengthening and promoting democracy in the country.