LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah has won the Senate seat from Punjab, securing 250 votes in a by-election held in the Punjab Assembly.

While the seat — which fell vacant due to the disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Senator Ijaz Chaudhry — was officially contested by his wife Salma Ijaz and Rana Sanaullah, the opposition parties, led by the Sunni Ittehad Council, announced the boycott of the electoral process to make it look a one-sided affair.

Out of the 363 members in the assembly, 251 cast their ballots, with one vote being rejected. Mr Sanaullah’s win was widely expected given the government’s majority of 263 votes compared to the opposition’s 100 in the assembly.

With this seat, the PML-N strength in Senate has grown equal to PTI’s. The party breakdown in the Senate is as follows: PPP 26 seats, PML-N and PTI 21 each, JUI-F seven, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) four, ANP and MQM-Pakistan three each, while PML-Q, NP, MWM, and Sunni Ittehad Council now have one seat each. There are six independent senators. One seat remains to be filled.

Later, PML-N workers and MPAs celebrated outside the Punjab Assembly, showering Mr Sanaullah with rose petals and garlands as he emerged from the building.

In his victory speech, Mr Sanaullah said, “The PTI did not choose to boycott the democratic process but chose to escape from the elections. Their boycott of the elections is a lack of confidence in their members.”

Among those who cast their votes were Punjab Chief Minister Mar­yam Nawaz, Speaker Malik Muh­ammad Ahmed Khan, and other provincial ministers. Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said the opposition’s decision to boycott the electoral process was its “political decision and prerogative”.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2025