Senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah won the Punjab Senate seat with 250 votes in Tuesday’s by-election. The election filled the seat left vacant by the disqualification of PTI’s Ejaz Chaudhry. Ejaz was convicted for damaging government and military property during May 9, 2023 protests. In July 2025, the Election Commission ended his membership after a 10-year prison sentence.
Rana Sanaullah ran as the joint candidate of the ruling alliance, backed by PML-N, PPP, IPP, and PML-Q. The alliance held 263 seats, well above the 180 votes needed to win. Specifically, PML-N gave 229 votes, PPP 16, IPP 7, and PML-Q 11 votes to Rana Sanaullah. This united front helped secure a decisive victory.
The opposition nominated Salma Ejaz, wife of the disqualified senator, with 100 supporting votes. Her supporters included the Sunni Ittehad Council, PTI, Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Muslim League Zia, and Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen. However, the opposition later announced a boycott of the voting process, though her nomination papers remained valid.
Voting took place from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the new Punjab Assembly building under Election Commission supervision. Out of 363 active members, 251 votes were cast, with one vote rejected. Six PTI members remain disqualified and two others have yet to take oath.
Deputy Opposition Leader Moin Qureshi warned PTI members not to vote, saying it would violate party policy. Despite the boycott, Rana Sanaullah’s victory shows the strength of the ruling alliance in Punjab’s political landscape.