Peshawar (Web Desk): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Mishal Yousafzai has emerged victorious in the Senate by-election from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), securing a total of 86 votes to win the seat, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results.
The election was held to fill the women's reserved seat previously held by Dr Sania Nishtar.
Representing the PTI as its officially endorsed candidate, Yousafzai faced competition primarily from Mehtab Zafar, who was backed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and received 53 votes.
Mehtab had also gained the support of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after its own nominee, Raheela Bibi, withdrew her candidacy before polling began, pledging support to the PML-N-backed contender instead.
The election also saw a split within PTI, as Saima Khalid, another PTI member, chose to remain in the race despite clear instructions from the party to withdraw in favour of Yousafzai. Khalid, voicing dissatisfaction with the party leadership, refused to step aside but managed to secure only a single vote.
During the counting process, two votes were declared invalid.