PPP, JUI-F Engage in Seat Adjustment Talks Ahead of KP Senate Elections

ISLAMABAD (RNN TV) — As preparations intensify for the upcoming Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have begun consultations over possible seat adjustments, signaling a strategic alignment between the two parties ahead of the July 21 polls.

A PPP delegation led by KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi visited the residence of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to hold talks on seat-sharing. Senior PPP leaders Syed Khursheed Shah and Zahir Shah also attended the meeting. On the JUI-F side, participants included Akram Khan Durrani, Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Maulana Asad Mahmood, Zahid Durrani, and Asjad Mahmood.

According to a brief statement issued by the JUI-F spokesperson, the meeting focused on consultations regarding the upcoming Senate elections in the KP Assembly.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Governor Kundi emphasized the importance of dialogue in building consensus among opposition parties to strengthen their presence in the Senate. He also highlighted the PPP’s past efforts to eliminate horse-trading in Senate elections, and noted that political alliances are often fluid — pointing to previous collaborations between JUI-F and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as examples of shifting political dynamics.

The Senate polls in KP, scheduled for July 21, will include elections for seven general seats, two seats reserved for women, and two seats for technocrats including Ulema. Voting will take place at the provincial assembly building in Peshawar between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.

The election process in KP has already faced delays. In March 2024, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated that Senate elections in the province would be postponed if the speaker failed to administer the oath to five women MPAs-elect on reserved seats, as directed by the high court.

Consequently, while Senate polls were held across other provinces and Islamabad on April 2, 2024, the elections in KP were officially postponed by the ECP pending compliance with the court’s order.

In the April 2 polls, the ruling coalition secured 19 Senate seats. The PPP emerged as the largest winner with 11 seats, followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with six. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and independent candidate Faisal Vawda each won one seat.

With the KP Senate vote now approaching, the PPP-JUI-F discussions could prove pivotal in determining the balance of power in the upper house.

Source: Web Desk