QUETTA, July 11: Syed Akbar Shah won a general Senate seat from Balochistan in a by-election held in the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday.

The seat fell vacant after the resignation of Sana Baloch of the BNP-Mengal in protest against the military operation in the province.

Mr Shah belongs to the Balochistan National Party-Awami and he was supported by the JUI-F. Awami National Party also supported him and withdrew its candidate Abdul Jabbar Kakar.

Mr Shah secured 23 votes, independent candidate Kohda Babar Baloch 20 votes and Mir Baz Khan Khatiran of Pakistan People’s Party 15 votes.

Sixty of the 65 members of the assembly cast their votes. Two votes were declared invalid.—Our Staff Correspondent