Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has unveiled its candidate lineup for the upcoming Senate elections, with senior leader Dr. Yasmin Rashid set to contest for the party’s seat from Punjab. The announcement, made by PTI leader Mian Aslam Iqbal via social media platform X, reveals a strategic move ahead of the crucial upper house polls slated for April 2.
In addition to Dr. Yasmin Rashid, PTI plans to field Zulfi Bukhari and Hamid Khan for general seats, while Brigadier (retd) Musadiq will represent the party on a technocrat seat. This decision marks a calculated effort by PTI to consolidate its presence in the Senate and strategically position key figures within the legislative body.
Rashid’s candidacy comes following her unsuccessful bid for a place in the National Assembly, where she contested against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Lahore’s NA-130 seat during the February 8 polls.
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However, Rashid, like several other PTI leaders, faces legal challenges stemming from cases related to the violent incidents of the May 9 riots last year. These incidents occurred following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a graft case and saw military installations being targeted.
The upcoming Senate elections will witness the filling of 48 out of 52 vacant seats in the upper house of parliament. Notably, four reserved seats for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) have been abolished after the 25th Constitutional amendment.
The electoral process will involve polling for various categories, including general seats, women’s seats, technocrat seats, and seats for non-Muslims, across different provinces and regions of Pakistan.
The Election Commission has already appointed returning officers (ROs) across Islamabad and the four provinces to oversee the smooth conduct of the Senate election.
