The government coalition is getting ready to strengthen its position in the parliament by winning most of the Senate seats.
This comes as voting for by-elections for the upper house is currently happening.
There are six Senate seats available because some senators won seats in the National Assembly during the February 8 elections and had to vacate their Senate seats. This is according to Article 223 of the Constitution, which says lawmakers can’t hold dual membership in different houses.
In Sindh, the voting is happening for two vacant general seats in the Senate. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has put forward Jam Saifullah Khan Dharejo and Muhammad Aslam Abro as their candidates. They’re facing competition from Nazeerullah and Shazia Sohail of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
In Balochistan, nine candidates are competing for three general Senate seats. These seats became empty after senators from different parties won seats in the National and Balochistan assemblies in the February 8 elections.
One Senate seat is up for grabs in Islamabad after PPP Senator Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani won a seat in the National Assembly. Gillani is the joint candidate of the ruling coalition of six parties, while the SIC has put forward Ilyas Mehrban as their candidate.
The by-elections are happening in different assembly buildings, and they will continue until 4 pm. The results will determine who fills these important Senate seats and could influence the balance of power in the government.