PTI Boycotts Senate Elections Over Incomplete Representation

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to boycott the upcoming Senate elections for the top slots in protest against the incomplete representation of the federation. The decision was made by the PTI's core committee, which also demanded a postponement of the polls. The party argued that holding the elections without the participation of all units of the federation would be unconstitutional. The PTI had initially sought a postponement of the polls, citing the absence of 11 members in the Senate due to the delayed elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, PTI senators later clarified that they would participate in the elections for the chairman and deputy chairman of the Senate. The party filed a constitutional petition challenging the elections, but the Islamabad High Court directed them to approach the Peshawar High Court, where a similar matter was already under consideration.

The Senate session scheduled for tomorrow will witness the oath-taking of newly-elected members and the election of the chairman and deputy chairman. With 85 senators set to take oath out of the total 96 members, the election process is expected to proceed. The Pakistan Peoples Party has nominated Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani for the chairman Senate position, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is considering a female lawmaker for the deputy chairman post. In contrast, the PTI, as the main opposition party, has not yet nominated a candidate for the chairman Senate position.