ISLAMABAD: PTI-backed independent candidate Khurram Zeeshan was elected as a senator on a general seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, filling the vacancy left by the disqualification of former opposition leader Shibli Faraz. Faraz had been convicted in connection with the May 9, 2023, riots.
A minimum of 75 votes was required to win the seat. Zeeshan secured 91 votes out of 137 cast by KP lawmakers, defeating opposition-backed Taj Mohammad Afridi, who received 45 votes. “Thank God,” Zeeshan posted on Facebook, emphasizing that the priority remained Pakistan’s “haqeeqi azadi” (true freedom), echoing PTI founder Imran Khan.
The contest was primarily between Zeeshan and Afridi, with Irfan Saleem serving as a covering candidate for Zeeshan. Out of the 145-member KP Assembly, four Awami National Party (ANP) lawmakers abstained from voting. KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also cast his vote in favor of Zeeshan and expressed support through a post on X.
Polling started at 9:30 a.m. and concluded at 4 p.m., with provincial election commissioner Saeed Gul acting as returning officer. Two other candidates, independent Abid Khan Yousafzai and PPP’s Nisar Khan, had withdrawn their candidacy. Zeeshan and Saleem had earlier been nominated for the 2024 KP Senate elections, which were postponed and later held in July this year.
Yesterday, a Supreme Court bench dismissed a petition by Faraz’s lawyer seeking a stay on the by-polls. The Peshawar High Court had also previously rejected Faraz’s challenge to his disqualification, allowing the Election Commission to fill the vacant seat.
Separately, CM Afridi said he would announce a “brief” KP cabinet after the Senate elections. He emphasized KP’s role in counterterrorism talks with Afghanistan, highlighting the province’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism and calling for clear policies to address ongoing security and governance issues. Afridi also noted the need for legal action against those responsible for collateral damage in drone operations.
