Senate Elections: FM Dar, Finance Minister, Vawda Victorious

Elections for 19 vacant seats in the Senate are currently underway across assemblies in Pakistan, with notable victories already secured by prominent figures such as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

In Islamabad, Ishaq Dar clinched victory on a technocrat seat with 222 votes, while Finance Minister Aurangzeb also secured a technocrat seat.

Independent candidate Faisal Vawda emerged victorious in the Senate race, further adding to the dynamics of the electoral process.

The voting process commenced at 9 am and is scheduled to continue until 4 pm. However, polling faced complications in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly, leading to uncertainty over the conduct of the polls.

Ultimately, the polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were called off due to procedural issues surrounding the oath-taking of newly-elected reserved seat members.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had previously warned that Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be postponed if the oath-taking ceremony could not take place.

As the oath remained pending, opposition parties subsequently called for the postponement of polls in the province.

Throughout the election process, four types of ballot papers are being utilized, including white for general seats, green for technocrats, pink for women, and white for minority seats, ensuring comprehensive representation in the Senate.

In a notable development, President Asif Ali Zardari appointed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as the presiding officer for the first session of the upper house of Parliament, in accordance with the rules of procedure for the Senate.

As the electoral process unfolds, with victories and postponements shaping the landscape of Pakistan’s political arena, the outcomes of these Senate elections hold significant implications for the future trajectory of governance and legislative affairs in the country.