‘Who voted for Gilani?’ – PDM defeats PTI in Senate election

Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday emerged victorious against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

After the result was announced, Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and the former prime minister shook hands and hugged each other.

The news of Hafeez’s defeat was told to him by Zain Qureshi — who was the minister’s polling agent — following which the two men embraced each other.

Gilani secured 169 votes while Shaikh received 164 votes. Out of the total number of 341 votes, 6 were rejected and 1 was not polled.

Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz celebrated the win in their tweets.

Democracy is the best revenge. Jeya Bhutto!

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) March 3, 2021

PMLN MNAs not only stood by MNS and made him proud, they also celebrated the success & vindication. Alhamdolillah!
What scenes ! 🐅🐅🐅 pic.twitter.com/SVs2y0BVqN

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 3, 2021

Nawaz Sharif also tweeted, congratulating Gilani on the win.

My sincerest felicitations to Mr. Yousuf Raza Gilani on his glorious victory in the Senate elections.

— Nawaz Sharif (@NawazSharifMNS) March 3, 2021

Meanwhile, PTI’s Dr Shahbaz Gill tweeted that the government will challenge this result

غیر حتمی طور پر 7 ووٹ رجیکٹ ہوئے ہیں۔ پانچ ووٹ کا فرق ہے۔ ابھی اس نتیجہ کو چیلنج کریں گے۔

Just an initial response

— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) March 3, 2021

PTI’s Shaukat Yousafzai also called a press conference, asking who voted for Gilani and alleged that money had a role to play. He also questioned the veracity of the results.

The votes were done by secret ballot and it will be difficult for the government to determine who voted for whom.