PESHAWAR: The by-election for a general seat of the Senate is currently underway in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, with the voting process continuing uninterrupted until 4 pm, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) spokesperson.
The contest has turned into a one-on-one battle between PTI-backed candidate Khurram Zeeshan and Taj Muhammad Afridi, the joint nominee of opposition parties.
Read More: ECP issues list of candidates from KP for Senate by-poll
Out of the 145 total members of the provincial assembly, a candidate requires 73 votes to secure the vacant Senate seat, which became available after the disqualification of Shibli Faraz.
The government holds 92 members in the assembly, while the opposition has 53. The Awami National Party (ANP) has announced that it will boycott the election, opting not to take part in the voting process.
Read More: Senate by-poll on Shibli Faraz’s seat on Oct 30
The by-election result is expected to further reflect the balance of power between the ruling PTI-backed bloc and the opposition alliance within the provincial legislature.