Voting process begins for the top Senate slots

As per reports, after the oath-taking ceremony, the Senate session was adjourned till 3:00 pm due to Friday prayers.

However, as per reports, the election staff received the nomination papers of candidates for the chairmanship and deputy chairmanship till 12:00 noon. The scrutiny process of the nominations was completed by 12:30 pm.

The presiding officer announced that the confidentiality of votes will be maintained. He also called upon the names of the polling agents from the candidates for the positions of Senate chairman and deputy chairman to be submitted to the Upper House secretary.

As per reports, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has fielded Sadiq Sanjrani and Mirza Muhammad Afridi for the posts of Senate chairman and deputy chairman, respectively.

Whereas, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has nominated Senator-elect Yousuf Raza Gillani and JUI-F general secretary Ghafoor Haideri as joint candidates for the Senate chairman and deputy chairman slots, respectively.

Mohsin Aziz has been named as the polling agent from the side of Sadiq Sanjrani and Farooq H Naek from Yousaf Raza Gillani.

Mirza Afridi was named as Hidayatullah’s polling agent, whereas, the PDM candidate for Senate deputy chairman, Abdul Ghafoor Haidery appointed Kamran Murtaza.

It is to be noted that PDM has a lead of three votes on the government and its allies in the 100-member House as the opposition has 53 senators, while the government and its allies have 47 members.

As per sources, Senator Ishaq Dar won’t be able to cast his ballot.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), which has one senator in the house has decided not to cast vote in the elections for Senate chairman and deputy chairman.

Hence, the number of the opposition’s votes will be reduced to 51 while the number of the PTI senators has increased to 48 after independent senator Abdul Qadir joined the PTI.

Stay tuned to Baaghi TV to read further details!