Two candidates in the run for by-poll to fill Senate seat from Sindh

Two candidates are in the run for the by-election to be held to fill the general seat in the Senate of Pakistan from Sindh that fell vacant due to the death of senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Taj Haider.

According to an announcement issued by the office of the Provincial Election Commissioner Sindh, two candidates withdrew their nomination papers on Monday, which was the last day to withdraw from the by-election contest.

PPP covering candidate Asif Khan and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) Mujahid Rasool withdrew their nomination papers. The by-poll contest will now be held between the PPP's Syed Waqar Mehdi and MQM-P's Nighat Mirza. The polling will be held on May 6 at the Sindh Assembly building.

It may be noted that a delegation of the PPP comprising Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani and others visited the MQM-P Bahadurabad headquarters on Sunday to request the MQM-P to withdraw its candidates to let the PPP candidate win the Senate seat unopposed.

However, the MQM-P did not accept the PPP's request. Given the decisive majority of the PPP in the Sindh Assembly, the PPP's candidate will likely easily win the by-election.