PTI-backed Khurram Zeeshan wins KP senate by-election

Peshawar (Web Desk): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed nominee Khurram Zeeshan clinched victory in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Senate by-election on Thursday, securing 91 votes, as per unofficial and unverified results.

His competitor, Taj Afridi, backed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), received 45 votes.

The by-election was held to fill the seat vacated after PTI leader and former Senate opposition leader Shibli Faraz was disqualified.

A total of five contenders were in the running, while one ballot was rejected during the counting process.
Polling was conducted inside the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, where lawmakers cast their votes in a calm and orderly manner.

Following his triumph, Khurram Zeeshan said he intended to continue his political struggle within Parliament, stressing that his immediate mission was to secure the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.

“There can be no stability in the country until Imran Khan regains his freedom,” he remarked.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who also participated in the voting, had earlier shared his confidence on X (formerly Twitter) that the PTI founder’s candidate would win by a significant margin.

The Senate seat became vacant in August after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified nine PTI senators, including Shibli Faraz, following their convictions in the May 9 cases.