Senate polls mark another milestone in the democratic process: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the Senate elections on Thursday mark the completion of another stage of the democratic process in Pakistan.

“With the cooperation of all political parties, we will bring far-reaching reforms for the 2018 general elections,” said the prime minister, who is currently in Saudi Arabia on a three-day official visit.

Sharif’s statement came hours after poll results late Thursday showed that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had gained major ground in the Senate.

The PML-N bagged 18 seats in the elections, boosting its strength in the Upper House of Parliament to 26 – just a notch behind the 27 seats of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

Combined with the support of Senators belonging to allied parties, the PML-N’s successful election campaign means the party will be able to wield significant influence in the lawmaking process in the Senate.

Speaking to members of the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia, Sharif said that his party believes in strengthening democratic institutions.

He vowed that the next elections will be free of all previous shortcomings in Pakistan's electoral process.

Sharif, who flew to Riyadh on Wednesday, is being accompanied by a high-level delegation including Finance Minister Ishaq Dar Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi.

During his stay, the prime minister will hold talks with the Saudi leadership besides performing Umrah.

This is the Pakistani prime minister’s first visit to Saudi Arabia since King Salman bin Abdulaziz assumed the throne of the Kingdom.