PML-N senior leader and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination, Rana Sanaullah, has been awarded the party ticket to contest the upcoming Senate by-election for a general seat from Punjab. The election, set for September 9, was necessitated after PTI’s Ejaz Chaudhry was disqualified following his conviction in a May 9 riots case. Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif approved Sanaullah’s candidacy.
Ejaz Chaudhry, along with others, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore for his involvement in the violent protests that erupted on May 9, 2023. The riots broke out after PTI founder Imran Khan was arrested in a corruption case, leading to widespread attacks on military installations, including GHQ and Jinnah House, as well as vandalism of martyrs’ monuments.
The state’s response to the May 9 violence was severe, with civil and military leadership vowing strict punishment under the Army Act and other laws. Imran Khan, removed as prime minister in April 2022, has since faced multiple legal challenges, including corruption and terrorism charges. His party’s workers and leaders continue to face repercussions for their alleged role in the unrest.
With Rana Sanaullah’s nomination, the PML-N aims to consolidate its influence in the Senate. The by-election will be a key test of political alignments in Punjab, especially as PTI grapples with legal and electoral setbacks. Analysts will be watching closely to see how this development shapes the broader political dynamics ahead of future elections.