ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) has initiated the process for the Senate elections by inviting applications from potential candidates.
Nayyar Bukhari, a prominent PPP leader, announced that interested individuals can submit their applications until March 14.
He specified that candidates should send their applications to either Zardari House in Islamabad or Bilawal House in Karachi, under the banner of PPPP.
Bukhari emphasized that applications must be submitted in the name of PPPP and should be accompanied by a bank draft of Rs 100,000 payable to the party.
In a recent statement, PPP leader Nasir Hussain Shah criticized the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accusing him of undermining the country’s economy. Shah condemned the PTI founder’s decision to urge the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to halt financial assistance to Pakistan, labeling it as a deliberate attempt to destabilize the nation.
According to Shah, this action reflects PTI’s agenda of fostering chaos and turmoil within the country.
He denounced PTI’s irresponsible behavior and called for legal action against the party for opposing the state’s interests.
Meanwhile, the Senate elections in Pakistan are reportedly scheduled to take place on April 3. The Election Commission has purportedly prepared a schedule for the Senate election, with polling expected to be conducted in the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies.
A total of 52 Senate members are set to retire on March 11 upon completing their six-year terms. The upcoming elections will fill 48 vacant seats in the Senate. The breakdown includes 12 senators each from Punjab and Sindh, four from FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), 11 each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and two senators from Islamabad.
Notably, the 25th constitutional amendment has altered the process for FATA, and elections will not be held for the four Senate vacancies in the region after its annexation with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Elected members from the national and provincial assemblies will participate in voting for the Senate election. The Senate’s tenure is six years, but elections are held every three years as one-half of the members retire after completing their terms.
The Senate elections in Pakistan are conducted in accordance with Article 59 of the Constitution. Each of the four provincial assemblies elects twenty-three members in the Senate elections, including fourteen on general seats, four on seats reserved for technocrats, four on seats reserved for women, and one on a seat reserved for non-Muslims.
Additionally, four members, consisting of two on general seats, one technocrat (including Aalim), and one woman, are elected from the Federal Capital.
