PTI’s Salma Ejaz Chaudhry announces boycott of Senate by-poll

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that it will boycott the upcoming Senate by-election for the seat vacated after the disqualification of senior party leader Senator Ejaz Chaudhry. Salma Ejaz, the wife of the disqualified senator and PTI’s expected nominee, confirmed that she would not be contesting the election. She stated that she refused to take part in what she called “oppressive and fraudulent polls.” According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), polling for the vacant Punjab seat has been scheduled for September 9. On the other hand, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has awarded its ticket to senior leader and former interior minister Rana Sanaullah Khan. Rana Sanaullah, a seasoned politician, has previously served as Punjab’s law minister as well as federal interior minister during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government. Analysts view his nomination as a strategic move by the PML-N to strengthen its position in the upper house of Parliament ahead of crucial legislative battles.