Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and opposition parties have reached an understanding of holding undisputed senate elections, confirmed sources Friday.
According to the agreement, six candidates from PTI and five from the opposition are set to be elected without being elected. Opposition leader in the KP Assembly, Dr. IBadullah, confirmed the development.
The opposition’s nominees include Talha Mehmood, Attaul Haq, Rubina Khalid, Dilawar Khan and Niaz Ahmad. PTI’s candidates to be elected without emerging include Murad Saeed, Faisal Javed, Mirza Afridi, Noor-Ul-Haq Qadri, Azam Swati and Rubina Naz.
After the final round of negotiations in the evening in the provincial capital, chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur registered a video message confirming consensus in the presence of opposition leaders.
The minister also reached out to PTI’s dissatisfied members in an attempt to tackle their concerns and secure wider agreement.
The meeting attended Senator Talha Mehmood, Ataul Haq Darwesh, MPA Sajjadullah and Dr. Ibadullah from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), including opposition figures.
Meanwhile, the opposition has resolved its internal rifts, with PML-N pulling its nominees in favor of Jui-F’s candidate for the minority seat.
In a related development, CM Gandapur signed a summary to summon a session with the provincial assembly on July 20 and forwarded it to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.
Under the sitting, newly elected members are expected in reserved seats for women and minorities to take oaths, according to sources.
PTIS internal departments persist
The reigning party has decided to establish a committee with three members to manage the dissent within its ranks.
Separately, PTI members including Irfan Saleem, Khurram Zeeshan and Ayesha Bano, who have been denied Senate’s tickets, have chosen not to withdraw their candidates, as described during a meeting with the party’s coverage of candidates.
The trio met PTI General Salman Salman Akram Raja and expressed frustration over the nomination process.
Raja is scheduled to meet CM Gandapur later today, accompanied by the concerned leaders, to present their objections, sources added.
Meanwhile, tensions inside the party remain unclear as PTI’s provincial leadership has issued a new priority of Senate candidates.
The revised list omits the names of Mirza Afridi and Rubina Naz – despite previous indications of their choices.
The updated slate now includes Murad Saeed, Irfan Saleem, Faisal Javed, Khurram Zeeshan, Azhar Mashwani, Noor-Ul-Haq Qadri and Azam Swati. According to sources, the list is formally sent to the PTI chairman of the party’s provincial secretary general.
