Voting underway for Senate seat vacated after Shibli Faraz’s disqualification

PESHAWAR: Polling is under way in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly today for a Senate by-election on a general seat that fell vacant after the disqualification of PTI leader and Opposition Leader in Senate Shibli Faraz following his conviction in cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots.

A total of three candidates are contesting on the seat.

Although three candidates are in the race, the main contest is expected between Khurram Zeeshan, an independent candidate backed by the PTI and Taj Mohammad Afridi, backed by the opposition.

Another PTI candidate, Irfan Saleem, whose name is also on the ballot, is contesting as a covering candidate for Khurram Zeeshan.

Voting began at 9:30am and will continue until 4 pm, with Provincial Election Commissioner Saeed Gul serving as the returning officer.

A total of 145 members of the provincial assembly are eligible to vote, and a minimum of 75 votes are required to win the seat.

PPP MPA Ehsanullah Khan and JUI-F’s Gripal Singh have already cast their votes.

Two other candidates — independent Abid Khan Yousafzai and PPP’s Nisar Khan — have withdrawn from the race.

Earlier, a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by Shibli Faraz’s lawyer seeking to halt today’s by-election.

Shibli Faraz had challenged his disqualification and de-notification as senator in the Peshawar High Court, but earlier this month, the court refused to grant relief to him and two MNAs, allowing the Election Commission to fill the vacant seats.

The court directed Shibli Faraz to first appear before the relevant trial court before seeking any relief.