March 7, 2021
With Yousaf Raza Gilani’s win against Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the Senate elections, the PTI’s confidence seems to be plummeting
The theatrics around the Senate elections have finally concluded with a rather surprise end. Despite strenuous efforts of the ruling party, the PTI government failed to secure a seat for Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh as the former prime minister and joint candidate of Pakistan Democratic Movement Yousuf Raza Gillani defeated him with a thin margin of five votes.
Although a close contest was expected, given the PTI majority in the National Assembly, most political pundits were predicting a victory for Hafeez Shaikh with a margin of 5 to 20 votes. Surprisingly Gillani polled 169 votes, while Shaikh bagged 164. Seven votes cast for this general seat from Islamabad were rejected. However, on the women’s seat from Islamabad, PTI’s candidate Fauzia Arshad had a smooth sailing, defeating her opponent and PDM candidate Farzana Ka
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani talks to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s candidate Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the National Assembly after being declared the winner of a Senate seat on Wednesday, as president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Shehbaz Sharif, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and others look on. Online
• Opposition’s candidate defeats finance minister by five votes
• PTI emerges as single largest party in upper house of parliament
ISLAMABAD: Hours after the ruling coalition’s candidate Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh suffered defeat at the hands of opposition’s Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in a major upset during the Senate elections on Wednesday, the government announced that Prime Minister Imran Khan would seek a vote of confidence afresh from the National Assembly.
Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh is contesting the Senate poll for a seat from Islamabad. AP/File
ISLAMABAD: Allies of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) held a significant meeting late on Monday night, at which they exhibited unity among their ranks and vowed to win the crucial Senate elections scheduled for March 3.
The meeting of the PTI-led coalition partners ended speculation that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is tilting towards the opposition and will support Pakistan Peoples Party leader and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the Senate election from Islamabad.
The meeting was held at the residence of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader Zubaida Jalal and attended by representatives of all the coalition partners, including the PTI, MQM, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Grand Democratic Alliance (DGA).
PM holds back-to-back meetings with lawmakers - Pakistan dawn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dawn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.