Peshawar: An agreement has been reached between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the opposition regarding the unopposed Senate elections.
Significant progress has been made in conducting the Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without opposition contestation.
According to sources, the Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, and opposition leaders held a meeting during which this agreement was finalized. The Chief Minister also recorded a video statement expressing consensus on the agreement.
Participants in the meeting included Senator Talha Mahmood, Ataullah Haq Darvesh, Sajadullah, Dr. Ibadullah of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), and others.
Sources indicate that an understanding was reached based on a 5/6 formula. Under this formula, PTI will be allocated 6 seats, while the opposition will receive 5 seats.
According to the agreement, opposition members Talha Mahmood, Ataullah Haq Darvesh, Rubina Khalid, Dilawar Khan, and Niaz Ahmad will be elected unopposed as Senators, while PTI members Murad Saeed, Faisal Javed, Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Noorul Haq Qadri, Azam Swati, and Rubina Naz will also be elected unopposed.
Sources say that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur will try to reconcile disgruntled party candidates through a committee to maintain consensus and prevent any disagreements.
It is also reported that Chief Minister Gandapur held a stern telephonic discussion with his party members to persuade them, but some disgruntled candidates remain unwilling to surrender. The government's goal is to secure 6 Senate seats unopposed to prevent horse-trading.
It is noted that Senate elections for 11 seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be held on July 21, including 7 general seats and two each for women and technocrats.
