The Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) has made a surprising political move by nominating Ghulam Badshah, the driver of Bushra Bibi, as a covering candidate for the vacant Senate seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This development comes amid internal disagreements within the opposition over the selection of candidates.
According to party sources, Irfan Saleem has been finalized as the main candidate, while Ghulam Badshah and Sajjad Mohmand have been included as covering candidates. The decision follows consultations between PTI leadership and opposition allies regarding the upcoming Senate election.
Initially, opposition leaders Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas had proposed the name of Akhundzada Hussain Yousafzai for the seat. However, the PTI parliamentary board rejected his nomination, leading to internal tensions within the party. Some leaders also expressed concerns about Irfan Saleem’s candidacy due to his alleged involvement in May 9 related cases.
Sources reveal that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and senior leader Salman Akram Raja had agreed to include Yousafzai as a covering candidate. However, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reportedly intervened and ensured that Ghulam Badshah was added to the list instead. This decision sparked criticism among party members, with several leaders questioning the inclusion of Bushra Bibi’s driver in such a key political process.
The Senate seat became vacant after Murad Saeed was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following his conviction in a May 9 case. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison by an anti terrorism court, leading to his disqualification under constitutional provisions.
The ECP has announced that polling will take place on April 23 at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. The election schedule includes scrutiny of nomination papers, appeals, and final candidate lists before voting day.
This unexpected nomination highlights growing internal divisions within PTI as the party prepares for a crucial Senate contest.
