In a significant political development leading up to the Upper House elections, the government and opposition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have reached a near-final consensus on a power-sharing formula to ensure uncontested candidates across all 11 Senate seats from the province.
Sources indicate that a formal announcement of the agreement is anticipated shortly. This breakthrough aims to mitigate “horse-trading” (vote buying/selling) and facilitate a peaceful electoral process for the Senate elections scheduled for July 21.
Finalized Power-Sharing Formula
As per the agreed-upon formula:
- Out of 7 general seats, 4 will be allocated to the government and 3 to the opposition.
- Out of 2 technocrat seats, one each will be allotted to the government and the opposition.
- Out of 2 women seats, one each will be assigned to the government and the opposition.
In total, the government will secure 6 seats, while the opposition will receive 5 seats.
Opposition Leader Confirms Agreement
Opposition Leader Dr. Ibad confirmed that both sides have accepted the formula. “The government has agreed to our proposal. Some reservations regarding certain candidates have also been resolved,” he stated, adding that a formal announcement will be made soon.
He emphasized that this agreement conveys a “positive message” from the province, fostering political maturity and cooperation.
Reserved Seats Distribution Completed
Ahead of the Senate vote, the process of distributing reserved seats in the provincial assembly has been finalized. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have demonstrated increasing cooperation. In a gesture of goodwill, the PML-N handed over the minority seat to JUI-F without a toss, resulting in Baba Gorpal Singh’s victory. A toss was held between the Awami National Party (ANP) and PTI-P for a women’s reserved seat, which was won by ANP’s Shahida Waheed.
Assembly Session on July 20
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has signed the summary to convene the KP Assembly session on Sunday, July 20, at 9 am. During this session, newly elected members on reserved seats from PML-N, JUI-F, and PPP will take their oath. An official notification has been issued by the KP Assembly Secretariat in this regard.
Updated Assembly Composition
The updated strength of the provincial assembly is as follows:
- PTI-backed independents: 51 members
- JUI-F: 18 members (now the second-largest party)
- PML-N: 17 members
- PPP: 10 members
- ANP: 4 members
- PTI (Parliamentary Party): 3 members
- Other independents: 2 members
Despite having a numerical advantage for the PTI-backed independents, the Leader of the Opposition remains from the PML-N, showcasing unity within the broader opposition alliance.
