PESHAWAR : In a significant political breakthrough, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government and opposition have agreed on a power-sharing formula to field unopposed candidates for all 11 Senate seats from the province, aiming to prevent horse-trading and ensure a smooth electoral process.
The Senate elections are scheduled for July 21, and a formal announcement of the agreement is expected shortly.
Senate Seat Formula Finalized: 6 for Govt, 5 for Opposition
As per the agreement:
- General Seats (7 total): 4 for the government, 3 for the opposition
- Technocrat Seats (2): 1 each for government and opposition
- Women’s Seats (2): 1 each for government and opposition
This gives the government 6 seats and the opposition 5 seats, ensuring balanced representation in the Upper House.
Opposition Confirms Deal, Says It Promotes Political Maturity
Opposition Leader Dr. Ibad confirmed the agreement had been reached, stating:
“The government has accepted our formula. Some issues regarding individual candidates were also resolved amicably.”
He added that the development reflects political maturity and sends a positive message from the province.
Reserved Seats Allocation Finalized Ahead of Senate Vote
With the reserved seats now fully allocated, cooperation among opposition parties has strengthened. In a symbolic move, PML-N gifted the minority seat to JUI-F, leading to Baba Gorpal Singh’s unopposed win.
Meanwhile, ANP’s Shahida Waheed won a women’s reserved seat through a toss against PTIP.
KP Assembly Session Scheduled for July 20
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has signed off on convening the KP Assembly session at 9:00 AM on July 20, where newly elected members on reserved seats will take their oaths.
An official notification has been issued by the KP Assembly Secretariat.
Updated KP Assembly Strength
- PTI-backed Independents: 51
- JUI-F: 18
- PML-N: 17
- PPP: 10
- ANP: 4
- PTI (Parliamentary Party): 3
- Other Independents: 2
Despite PTI-backed independents holding the majority, the Leader of the Opposition remains from PML-N, reflecting the continued unity among opposition parties.
