The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday announced the result of polling held for a vacant Senate seat, wherein Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Abdul Karim scored 243 votes.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate, Abdul Sattar, won 99 votes.
The ECP reported that a total of 368 legislators were registered for voting, out of whom 345 polled. Out of these, 342 votes were considered valid, while three were rejected.
The polling for a vacant Senate seat in the Punjab Assembly concluded at 4pm.
After the results were declared, Hafiz Abdul Karim thanked God for the victory, and acknowledged PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif for "standing by Sajid Mir Sahib with unwavering loyalty".
"I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. She remained in contact with everyone throughout and ensured her support by casting her vote," Karim remarked, also thanking allied parties, the PPP, PML-Q, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and others for their support.
The seat had become vacant following the death of Prof Sajid Mir.
The contest was between Hafiz Abdul Karim of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Mehar Abdul Sattar, the candidate backed by opposition parties.
PML-N had appointed Chief Whip Rana Arshad as its polling agent, while Rana Shehbaz represented the opposition. The PML-N and its allied parties held 261 seats in the assembly, while the opposition alliance has 108 members.
The treasury member, Raja Sagheer Ahmed, cast the first vote in the Punjab Assembly Senate election. Punjab Election Commissioner Sharifullah served as the presiding officer for the election.
