Rana Sanaullah wins Punjab senate seat in by-election amid PTI boycott

(Web Desk): PML-N’s senior leader and former federal minister Rana Sanaullah has been elected senator from Punjab in a by-election, securing 250 out of 251 votes, with one vote rejected, according to unofficial results.

The by-election turned into a one-sided affair after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) boycotted the process, warning its members that participating would violate party policy. The opposition had fielded Salma Ijaz, wife of former PTI senator Ejaz Chaudhry, whose seat had become vacant following his disqualification. An anti-terrorism court had sentenced Chaudhry to 10 years in prison over the May 9 riot cases, rendering him ineligible to hold public office.

On September 8, the Lahore High Court, hearing a petition challenging Chaudhry’s disqualification and the election schedule issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), allowed the election process to proceed. However, it ruled that the outcome would be subject to the court’s final verdict.

Rana Sanaullah had previously contested the February 8 general elections from Faisalabad but failed to secure a National Assembly seat. He previously served as Interior Minister under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government and twice as Law Minister during Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure as Punjab chief minister.

The Punjab Senate seat is part of a 363-member house comprising nine political parties. PML-N currently holds a commanding majority with 229 members. Other parties include the Sunni Ittehad Council (73), PTI (24), PPPP (16), PML (11), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (7), MWM (1), PML-Zia (1), and TLP (1). PML-N claimed the backing of over 260 members during the vote.