PML-N's Rana Sanaullah wins Senate by-election from Punjab

Lahore (Web Desk): Rana Sanaullah of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has won the Senate by-election from Punjab, securing 250 votes in the provincial assembly, according to unofficial tallies issued on Tuesday.

The election was conducted to replace Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Ejaz Chaudhry, whose seat fell vacant after his conviction on charges of vandalism targeting state property, military facilities, and martyrs’ monuments during the May 9, 2023 demonstrations.

In July 2025, the Election Commission ended his Senate membership following a 10-year prison sentence.

Sanaullah ran as the joint nominee of the coalition government, consisting of PML-N, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), and PML-Q. Together, the alliance commanded 263 votes, comfortably crossing the 180 required to clinch the seat. Within this, PML-N delivered 229 votes, PPP 16, IPP 7, and PML-Q 11.

Opposition ranks put forward Salma Ejaz, the wife of the ousted PTI senator, who mustered the backing of 100 members—73 from the Sunni Ittehad Council, 24 from PTI, and one each from Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Muslim League Zia, and Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM).

But the opposition later declared a boycott. Despite this announcement, her nomination could not be withdrawn as the deadline had already passed. Deputy Opposition Leader Moin Qureshi cautioned PTI legislators that casting votes would breach the party’s stance.

The voting process commenced at 9:00am. and concluded at4:00 pm. inside the new Punjab Assembly building under the supervision of the Election Commission.

Out of 363 members on record, 251 votes were cast with one rejected.

Six PTI legislators remain disqualified, while two others have yet to be sworn in.