Polling for vacant Senate seat underway at Punjab Assembly

Lahore (Web Desk): Polling is underway for the vacant Senate seat at the new Punjab Assembly building.

The seat had fallen vacant following disqualification of Senator Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

Polling started at 9am and will continue uninterrupted until 4:00pm. However, the opposition has announced a boycott of the voting process.

In this by-election, the ruling coalition has fielded Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah as its candidate.

The opposition has nominated Salma Ijaz, the wife of disqualified PTI leader Ijaz Chaudhry. Despite her nomination, the opposition alliance has decided not to cast any votes today.

Deputy Opposition Leader Mian Qureshi made it clear that any member who votes would be violating party policy.

The Punjab Assembly comprises a total of 371 seats, of which 363 are currently filled and eight remain vacant.

The current party-wise composition of the Assembly is as follows: PML-N 229, Pakistan Peoples Party 16, Independent Pakistan Party 7, PML-Q 11, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) 73, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) 24, and other smaller parties holding one seat each.

According to sources, Rana Sanaullah is expected to secure support from 263 members, while only 181 votes are required for victory.

Salma Ijaz, on the other hand, could have received backing from around 100 members, but this was contingent on opposition members casting their votes, which is no longer taking place.

The seat fell vacant following the disqualification of PTI leader Ijaz Chaudhry due to convictions in multiple cases on May 9.

Given the current numerical strength of the government, the by-election appears heavily tilted in favor of the ruling coalition, making Rana Sanaullah’s victory almost certain.