ISLAMABAD, July 16, 2025 — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday to hash out the nation’s political, security, and economic standing. A major talking point? The looming August 5 protest march by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and upcoming Senate elections.
Senate Election Stakes High Amid Political Tensions
The meeting also addressed potential shifts in the PTI-led provincial government and the upcoming Senate elections.
The prime minister was joined by a formidable team of senior cabinet members, including Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah.
Sources close to the discussions revealed a firm consensus: no one will be permitted to disrupt the country’s peace under the guise of a political rally or sit-in. The PTI’s planned march into the federal capital is explicitly off-limits, with authorities prepared to stop them by any means necessary.
One suggestion on the table involved designating a specific location, away from the city’s core, for the opposition’s protest. The PTI’s primary demand is the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan.
President’s Role in Securing Senate Seats
President Zardari, respected for his political savvy even as PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari leads formally, is known for his ability to rally support from disparate parties during crucial moments. He reportedly assured the prime minister of his cooperation in the bid to win the maximum number of Senate seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
This comes as the Election Commission of Pakistan has set July 21 for the long-delayed Senate elections in KP. The elections will fill 11 seats: seven general, and two each for women, ulema, and technocrats.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday.
- Discussions focused on the country’s political, security, and economic situation.
- Key agenda items included the upcoming PTI protest march and Senate elections in KP.
- A decision was made to prevent PTI protesters from entering the federal capital.
Navigating the KP Senate Election Landscape
The outcome of these elections is widely expected to be influenced by how PTI-backed and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F) members cast their votes. If the opposition stands united and PTI members adhere strictly to party discipline, with JUI-F support, the ruling coalition might secure only one general seat.
However, the dynamics could drastically change if some PTI members switch allegiance or if the JUI-F aligns with the ruling coalition. In such a scenario, the coalition could potentially win around five seats, inching closer to a two-thirds majority in the Senate. The JUI-F currently holds five Senate seats.
The ruling coalition presently commands 54 seats in the 96-member Senate, falling short of the 64 seats needed for a two-thirds majority.
