PTI’s Khurram Zeeshan wins senate by-election in KP

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday retained its Senate seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after its candidate Khurram Zeeshan secured a decisive victory over the joint opposition candidate.
The by-election was held to fill the seat vacated after the disqualification of former PTI Senator Shibli Faraz.
According to unofficial results, PTI founding chairman Imran Khan nominee Zeeshan won with 91 votes, while the opposition’s joint candidate Taj Muhammad Afridi, a businessman and political figure from Khyber district, received 45 votes. One vote was rejected, bringing the total polled votes to 137.
Members of both the government and opposition parties participated in the polling process. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, and Leader of the Opposition Dr. Ibad were among those who cast their votes.
Following the announcement of results, PTI Provincial President Junaid Akbar said that the victory reaffirmed the assembly members’ loyalty to the party’s founder, Imran Khan.
“Thanks be to Allah Almighty that today again the members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa proved that they stand with Imran Khan. This is the victory of PTI and democracy,” he said.
Speaking after his win, Khurram Zeeshan expressed gratitude to the PTI founder, declaring, “Our ultimate goal is the release of Imran Khan. Today’s victory is his victory.”
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Nisar Baz commented that the outcome had been expected. “Every political party is free to make its own decisions. The ANP stands firmly against horse trading,” he said, recalling that his party had always upheld the principle that whoever holds the mandate should elect their own Chief Minister.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi told reporters that after casting his vote, he would meet the PTI founder, and a cabinet statement would follow the meeting. “All our MPAs are standing with us like a rock,” he added.
Former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reiterated his call for judicial intervention, alleging that PTI’s mandate had been “stolen” in earlier elections. “The judiciary has to protect the Constitution and come forward to save democracy,” he said.
With this victory, PTI successfully defended its Senate seat from KP, maintaining its dominant position in the provincial assembly.

BY: JAVED KHAN