Senate by-election underway in KP

WEB DESK: Voting is underway in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly today to fill a vacant Senate seat. Three candidates are contesting the election after two others withdrew from the race earlier.

The main contest is expected between Taj Mohammad Afridi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Khurram Zeeshan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). A third PTI candidate, Irfan Saleem, also remains in the running.

Dr Nisar Khan of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Abid Yousafzai of the PML-N have withdrawn their nominations ahead of polling.

The PTI enjoys a clear numerical advantage in the provincial assembly, holding 92 seats, but opposition parties are reportedly backing the PML-N’s Taj Mohammad Afridi in an attempt to mount a challenge.

Polling began earlier in the day and will continue until 4 pm at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in Peshawar.