{{Short description|none}} {{Infobox election | country = Pakistan | type = legislative | previous_election = 2015 Pakistani Senate election | previous_year = 2015 | next_election = 2021 Pakistani Senate election | next_year = 2021 | seats_for_election = 52 of the 104 seats in the Senate of Pakistan | majority_seats = 53 | election_date = 3 March 2018 | image_size = 130x130px
| image1 = 3x4.svg | leader1 = Raja Zafar-ul-Haq | party1 = Pakistan Muslim League (N) | leaders_seat1 = Technocrat Punjab | last_election1 = 26 | seats1 = 33 | seat_change1 = {{increase}} 7
| image2 = Sherry Rehman (cropped).jpg | leader2 = Sherry Rehman | leaders_seat2 = General Sindh | party2 = Pakistan Peoples Party | last_election2 = 27 | seats2 = 20 | seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 7
| leader3 = Azam Swati | leaders_seat3 = Technocrat KP | image3 = Azam Khan Swati - 2018 (cropped).jpg | party3 = Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf | last_election3 = 9 | seats3 = 15 | seat_change3 = {{increase}} 6
| map_image = 2018 Pakistan Senate election results.svg | map_caption = Results by province | title = Chairman | before_election = Raza Rabbani | before_party = Pakistan Peoples Party | after_election = Sadiq Sanjrani | after_party = Balochistan Awami Party | posttitle = Elected Chairman }}{{Politics of Pakistan}}
Triennial Senate elections were in Pakistan held on 3 March 2018 to replace 52 retiring senators - half of the Senate's strength - with the winning candidates serving six-year terms.<ref>{{cite news|date=18 October 2015|title=‘PPP to fight back in 2018 election’|publisher=Dawn|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1213847}}</ref> Overall, Pakistan Muslim League (N) came out as the largest party, followed by the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.<ref name="senate">{{cite news|last1=From the Editorial|title=Senate elections: PML-N bags lion's share, PPP outperforms, PTI meets expectations|accessdate=3 March 2018|publisher=Dawn News|date=3 March 2018|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1392940}}</ref> The results of these elections were steeped in controversy due to rampant allegations of horse trading and vote-buying, which lead to the Prime Minister and opposition leader Imran Khan calling for reforms.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1392942|title=Senate election was an auction where bids were made, horse-trading was rampant: Sattar|date=2018-03-03|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-03-06|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1393131|title=At least 17 PTI lawmakers in KP allegedly sold votes in Senate election: sources|author1=Arif Hayat|author2=Syed Ali Shah |date=2018-03-04|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-03-06|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1393379|title=Parties call for probe into Senate vote ‘purchase’|author1=Malik Asad|author2=Habib Khan Ghori |date=2018-03-06|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-03-06|language=en-US}}</ref> Prior to this election, PML (N) candidates were declared as independents by the Election Commission of Pakistan owing to a Supreme Court judgment.<ref name="independent">{{cite news|last1=GEO NEWS|title=PML-N Senate candidates declared independent by ECP|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/183165-pml-n-candidates-can-contest-senate-polls-as-independent-ecp|accessdate=22 Feb 2018|publisher=GEO NEWS|date=22 Feb 2018}}</ref>
Elections for the chairmanship and deputy chairmanship of the senate were held on 12 March 2018. Both posts were won by joint opposition's candidates with Sadiq Sanjrani and Saleem Mandviwalla being elected chairman and deputy chairman, respectively.<ref name=":0" />
==Background== The Senate of Pakistan is the upper house of the Parliament of Pakistan. It consists of 104 senators with each senator serving a 6-year term. The elections are conducted triennially for half the seats in the senate. This staggered nature of the terms means that at any given time senators from two different elections are serving in the Senate.<ref name="constitution">{{cite web|title=Part III: The Federation of Pakistan - Chapter 2: Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)|url=http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch2.html|website=The Constitution of Pakistan|accessdate=6 March 2018}}</ref>
The 2018 elections were conducted on 3 March 2018 to replace the senators elected during the 2012 elections. The electoral process is based on an indirect single transferable vote. This is in contrast to the methodology of direct first-past-the-post voting used in all other parliamentary elections in the country. Thus, effectively, the senators in Pakistan are voted for by serving members of the country's National and Provincial Assemblies and not the public.<ref name="constitution"/> This reduction in electorate, the transferable nature of the vote, and secrecy of the ballot have resulted in the senate elections in the country being almost always marred by allegations of vote trading.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ahmed|first1=Khalid|title=Politics: the art of riding people?|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/346367/politics-the-art-of-riding-people/|website=Express Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Abrar|first1=Mian|title=Senate polling suspended in Punjab, KP assemblies on rigging claims|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/03/05/senate-polls-today-amid-horse-trading-fears/|website=Pakistan Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Rasool|first1=Adnan|title=The joke that is the Senate elections|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1168861|website=Dawn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Ali|first1=Zulfiqar|title=Property tycoon ‘invests’ in Senate elections|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1164561|website=Dawn}}</ref>
In terms of seats, there is a fixed representation of each of the country's administrative units in the senate, apart from the disputed territories of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. There are 23 seats from each province, 8 from Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and 4 from the capital region of Islamabad. In a given election, half of these seats are contested. Due to the odd nature of the number of seats from the provinces, each election cycle sees two provinces elect all 12 representatives, while the remaining two elect 11.<ref name="constitution"/><ref name="method" />
This year's elections took place in an environment of uncertainty as one of the electing houses, the Balochistan Assembly, saw an in-house change,<ref>{{cite web|title=What does the change in Balochistan mean?|url=https://nation.com.pk/14-Jan-2018/what-does-the-change-in-balochistan-mean|website=The Nation}}</ref> the lower house's speaker, Ayaz Sadiq, voiced concerns that 'hidden elements' might not let the current government complete its term,<ref>{{cite web|title=Ayaz Sadiq fears PML-N govt will not complete its constitutional term|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1376467|website=Dawn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1376725|title=PML-N struggles to explain NA speaker’s fears|last1=Tahir|first1=Zulqernain|website=Dawn}}</ref> and the candidacy of PML-N candidates was stripped mere days before the election. Further still, in the lead up to the elections, the ruling PML-N was of the opinion that the provincial assemblies in which it is not in power, namely, Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, might be prematurely dissolved to postpone the senate elections until after the general elections.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate elections in jeopardy?|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/02/21/senate-elections-in-jeopardy/|website=Pakistan Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Wasim|first1=Amir|title=Balochistan Assembly dissolution won’t hit Senate polls|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1381360|website=Dawn}}</ref>
===Candidacy of PML-N Nominees=== On 28 July 2017, the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding public office. Following this, the Elections Act 2017 was passed, which allowed Sharif to serve as party head despite being disqualified.<ref name="election act 2017">{{cite news|last1=Rehman|first1=Dawood|title=What has actually changed in Election Reform Bill 2017?|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/what-makes-pakistans-election-bill-2017-controversial/|accessdate=3 Oct 2017|publisher=Pakistan Today|date=3 Oct 2017}}</ref> However, in a later judgement passed by the Supreme Court on 21 February 2018, Sharif was disqualified from holding office as party president. In this judgement, all decisions taken by Sharif during his tenure as party president were declared null and void, including Senate tickets which he had signed himself.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zaidi|first1=Qamber|title=Nawaz disqualified as PML-N president: SC announces verdict in Elections Act case|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/182952-nawaz-sharif-disqualified-as-pml-n-president|accessdate=21 Feb 2018|date=21 Feb 2018}}</ref> To prevent delay in Senate elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan declared all PML(N) candidates as Independents.<ref name="independent"/>
==Voting== Voting is conducted on the basis of single transferable vote where a voter prioritizes their vote among a list of candidates. First priority votes are given the highest weightage and carry 100 points. The Election Commission of Pakistan establishes the criterion for the minimum number of points required to attain a senate seat. During the first count, when a candidate breaches that criterion, they are declared a winner for the seat. Any surplus points they have are divided among other preferences in successive iteration(s). Similarly, a candidate who falls well short of this criterion during the first count has their points transferred among other preferences in subsequent count(s). This whole exercise is repeated iteratively until all vacant seats are filled.<ref name="method">{{cite web|last1=Pasha|first1=Ebad|title=Untangling the mystery: All you need to know about Senate elections|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1392528/untangling-the-mystery-all-you-need-to-know-about-senate-elections|website=Dawn}}</ref>
It is pertinent to mention that the points system is only used for senators to be elected from general, women, and technocrat seats in provincial assemblies. For senators who are elected from the National Assembly or are running for a minority/non-Muslim seat in the provinces, only a vote count is used.<ref name="method" />
In a typical election, a total of 52 seats are contested. Of which 33 are general seats (7 from each province, 4 from FATA, and 1 from Islamabad), 9 are technocrat seats (2 from each province, and 1 from Islamabad), 8 are women seats (2 apiece from each province), and 2 are minority seats (1 each from 2 provinces).<ref name="method" />
===Voting Requirements===
The following table outlines the voting requirements in the current senate elections. The ''Minimum Votes Required'' column only considers first priority votes:
{| class="wikitable" |+ General Seats !Administrative Unit !Elections Conducted at !Points Required !Minimum Votes Required |- |Punjab |Provincial Assembly |4563<ref name="punjab" /> |46 |- |Sindh |Provincial Assembly |1838<ref name="sindh">{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54810&type=PDF|title=Senate Election 2018 - Sindh Winning Candidates Name Have Been Declared by Returning Officer|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> |19 |- |Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |Provincial Assembly |1476<ref name="kpk">{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54809&type=PDF|title=Senate Election 2018 - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Winning Candidates Name Have Been Declared by Returning Officer|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> |15 |- |Balochistan |Provincial Assembly |788<ref name="balochistan">{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54812&type=PDF|title=Senate Election 2018 - Balochistan Winning Candidates Name Have Been Declared by Returning Officer|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> |8 |- |FATA |National Assembly<sup>†</sup> |N/A |7<ref name="fata">{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54807&type=PDF|title=Senate Election 2018 - FATA Winning Candidates Name Have Been Declared by Returning Officer|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> |- |ICT |National Assembly |N/A |146<ref name="ict">{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54808&type=PDF|title=Senate Election 2018 - ICT Winning Candidates Name Have Been Declared by Returning Officer|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> |} <sup>†</sup><small>Only members from FATA are eligible to vote.</small>
{| class="wikitable" |+ Technocrat Seats !Administrative Unit !Elections Conducted at !Points Required !Minimum Votes Required |- |Punjab |Provincial Assembly |12067<ref name="punjab" /> |121 |- |Sindh |Provincial Assembly |5001<ref name="sindh" /> |51 |- |Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |Provincial Assembly |4001<ref name="kpk" /> |41 |- |Balochistan |Provincial Assembly |2134<ref name="balochistan" /> |22 |- |ICT |National Assembly |N/A |144<ref name="ict" /> |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ Women Seats !Administrative Unit !Elections Conducted at !Points Required !Minimum Votes Required |- |Punjab |Provincial Assembly |12067<ref name="punjab" /> |121 |- |Sindh |Provincial Assembly |5001<ref name="sindh" /> |51 |- |Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |Provincial Assembly |4001<ref name="kpk" /> |41 |- |Balochistan |Provincial Assembly |2134<ref name="balochistan" /> |22 |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ Minority Seats<sup>‡</sup> !Administrative Unit !Elections Conducted at !Minimum Votes Required |- |Punjab |Provincial Assembly |179<ref name="punjab" /> |- |Sindh |Provincial Assembly |75<ref name="sindh" /> |} <sup>‡</sup><small>Minority Seats are filled for only 2 provinces in a given election. This way the elections for these seats alternate between Punjab/Sindh and Balochistan/KPK.</small>
==Candidates== A total of 131 candidates were in the run for the 52 seats. 33 from Sindh, 26 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 24 from FATA, 23 from Balochistan, 20 from Punjab, and 5 from Islamabad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate polls: PML-N, PPP win most seats|url=https://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2018/03/set-senate-election-saturday/|website=Samaa TV}}</ref>
===Candidates by Administrative Unit=== {| class="wikitable" |+Punjab<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54759&type=PDF|title=List of Contesting Candidates (Punjab)|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> !Seat Type !Candidate !Party |- | rowspan="10" |'''General''' |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Asif Kirmani |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Mehmoodul Hassan |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Rana Maqbool |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Zubair Gul |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Shaheen Butt |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Musadik Malik |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Haroon Khan |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (Q)}};color:black"|Kamil Ali Agha |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (Q)}};color:black"|PML-Q |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Shahzad Khan |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Chaudhry Sarwar |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- | rowspan="5" |'''Technocrat''' |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Naseer Bhutta |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Hafiz Abdul Kareem |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Ishaq Dar |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Nawazish Pirzada |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Asif Javaid |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- | rowspan="3" |'''Women''' |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Saadia Abbasi |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Nuzhat Sadiq |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Andaleeb Abbas |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- | rowspan="2" |'''Minority''' |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Kamran Michael |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Victor Azariah |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |} {| class="wikitable" |+Sindh<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54756&type=PDF|title=List of Contesting Candidates (Sindh)|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> !Seat Type !Candidate !Party |- | rowspan="18" |'''General''' |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Ahmed Chinoy |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Amin-ul-Haq |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Amir Chishti |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Farhan Chishti |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Farogh Naseem |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Kamran Tessori |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (F)}};color:white"|Muzaffar Hussain |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (F)}};color:white"|PML-F |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Sarfaraz Jatoi |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Imamuddin Shouqeen |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Ayaz Mehar |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Ali Shah Jamot |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Murtaza Wahab |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Mustafa Khokhar |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Moula Bux Chandio |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Raza Rabbani |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:#00ff66;color:black"|Anis Ahmed Khan |style="background:#00ff66;color:black"|PSP |- |style="background:#00ff66;color:black"|Sagheer Ahmed |style="background:#00ff66;color:black"|PSP |- |style="background:#00ff66;color:black"|Mubashir Imam |style="background:#00ff66;color:black"|PSP |- | rowspan="6" |'''Technocrat''' |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Hasan Feroz |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Abdul Kadir Khanzada |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Ali Raza Abidi |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Sikandar Mandhro |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Rukhsana Zuberi |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Najeeb Haroon |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- | rowspan="6" |'''Women''' |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Nikhat Shakeel |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Kishwer Zehra |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Nasreen Jalil |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Mangla Sharma |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Qurutulain Marri |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Keshoo Bai |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- | rowspan="3" |'''Minority''' |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Sanjay Perwani |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|MQM |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Anwar Lal Deen |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:#00ff66;color:black"|Mohan Manjiani |style="background:#00ff66;color:black"|PSP |} {| class="wikitable" |+Khyber Pakhtunkhwa<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54760&type=PDF|title=List of Contesting Candidates (KPK)|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> !Seat Type !Candidate !Party |- | rowspan="14" |'''General''' |style="background:#c83737;color:white"|Masood Abbas |style="background:#c83737;color:white"|ANP |- |style="background:{{party color|Jamaat-e-Islami}};color:white"|Mushtaq Ahmed |style="background:{{party color|Jamaat-e-Islami}};color:white"|JI |- |style="background:#E3E80F"|Gul Naseeb Khan |style="background:#E3E80F"|JUI-F |- |style="background:#E3E80F"|Talha Mahmood |style="background:#E3E80F"|JUI-F |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Pir Sabir Shah |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Ali Afzal Jadoon |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Bahramand Tangi |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Faisal Sakhi Butt |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Khial Zaman |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Abdul Latif Yousafzai |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Fida Muhammad |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Faisal Javed |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Muhammad Ayub |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- |style="background:#c87137;color:white"|Muhammad Ghufran |style="background:#c87137;color:white"|QWP |- | rowspan="5" |'''Technocrat''' |style="background:#E3E80F"|Yaqoob Sheikh |style="background:#E3E80F"|JUI-F |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Sami-ul-Haq |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Dilawar Khan |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Nisar Khan |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Azam Swati |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- | rowspan="8" |'''Women''' |style="background:#c83737;color:white"|Shagufta Malik |style="background:#c83737;color:white"|ANP |- |style="background:#E3E80F"|Naeema Kishwar |style="background:#E3E80F"|JUI-F |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Sobia Shahid |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Raeesa Daud |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Rubina Khalid |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Mehr Taj Roghani |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Naureen Farooq |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- |style="background:#c87137;color:white"|Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli |style="background:#c87137;color:white"|QWP |} {| class="wikitable" |+Balochistan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54722&type=PDF|title=List of Contesting Candidates (Balochistan)|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> !Seat Type !Candidate !Party |- | rowspan="16" |'''General''' |style="background:#c83737;color:white"|Nizam-ud-Din Kakkar |style="background:#c83737;color:white"|ANP |- |style="background:yellow;color:black"|Hamayun Kurd |style="background:yellow;color:black"|BNP-M |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Ahmed Khan |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Hussain Islam |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Allauddin |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Fateh Baloch |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Kauda Babar |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Sadiq Sanjrani |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Abdul Qadir |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|National Party (Pakistan)}}; color:white"|Muhammad Akram |style="background:{{party color|National Party (Pakistan)}}; color:white"|NP |- |style="background:#E3E80F"|Faiz Muhammad |style="background:#E3E80F"|JUI-F |- |style="background:orange;color:white"|Shafeeq Tareen |style="background:orange;color:white"|PKMAP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Amir Afzal Khan |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Yousaf Kakar |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Naseebullah Bazai |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- | rowspan="3" |'''Technocrat''' |style="background:#E3E80F"|Kamran Murtaza |style="background:#E3E80F"|JUI-F |- |style="background:{{party color|National Party (Pakistan)}}; color:white"|Tahir Bizenjo |style="background:{{party color|National Party (Pakistan)}}; color:white"|NP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Abdul Manaf Tareen |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- | rowspan="6" |'''Women''' |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Sana Jamali |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Shama Magsi |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:#E3E80F"|Azra Syed |style="background:#E3E80F"|JUI-F |- |style="background:{{party color|National Party (Pakistan)}}; color:white"|Tahir Khursheed |style="background:{{party color|National Party (Pakistan)}}; color:white"|NP |- |style="background:orange;color:white"|Abida Azeem |style="background:orange;color:white"|PKMAP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Samina Zehri |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |} {| class="wikitable" |+FATA<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54752&type=PDF|title=List of Contesting Candidates (FATA)|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> !Seat Type !Candidate !Party |- | rowspan="24" |'''General''' |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Aqal Shah |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Said Jamal |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Haji Khan |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Sajid Turi |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Ghazi Ghazan Jamal |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Shah Khalid |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Shahid Hussain |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Shoaib Hassan |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Shammim Afridi |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Saleh Sarwar |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Zia-ur-Rehman |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Tahir Iqbal |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Abdul Raziq |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Faiz-ur-Rehman |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Mirza Afridi |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Afzal Din Khan |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Najamul Hassan |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Nizam Uddin Khan |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Hidayat Ullah |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Hillal-ur-Rehman |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Independent |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Jangriz Khan |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Akhunzada Chattan |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Shahban Ali |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Farhad Shabab |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |} {| class="wikitable" |+ICT<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54739&type=PDF|title=List of Contesting Candidates (Federal Capital)|website=Election Commission of Pakistan}}</ref> !Seat Type !Candidate !Party |- | rowspan="4" |'''General''' |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Asad Junejo |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Atif Fazal |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Imran Ashraf |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Kanwa Shauzab |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|PTI |- | rowspan="2" |'''Technocrat''' |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Mushahid Hussain |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|PML-N |- |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Shakil Abbasi |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|PPP |}
== Results ==
=== Summary === Overall, PML (N) backed Independents won the most seats, securing 15 of the 52 seats up for election. 11 of these seats were from Punjab, 2 of them from Islamabad and 2 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<ref name="results">{{cite web|last1=Khan|first1=Iftikhar|title=PML-N gains Senate control amid surprise PPP showing|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1393083/pml-n-gains-senate-control-amid-surprise-ppp-showing|website=Dawn}}</ref> The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) closely trailed behind, securing 12 of the 52 seats. Of these, 10 were won in Sindh and 2 were won in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<ref name="results" /> Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured 6 seats of which 5 came from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one from Punjab.<ref name="results" />
The strong performance of the PPP raised many eyebrows and led to allegations of 'horse trading' by the party. Noting that MQM, despite having 52 MPAs in the Sindh Assembly, only managed to secure one senator, whilst the PPP managed to secure two senators - including one on the women's seat - from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with only 7 MPAs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate polls: Dr Farooq Sattar accuses PPP of horse-trading|url=https://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2018/03/senate-polls-dr-farooq-sattar-accuses-ppp-horse-trading/|website=Samaa TV}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Alvi|first1=Mumtaz|title=Imran accuses PPP of horse-trading in KP|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/288148-imran-accuses-ppp-of-horse-trading-in-kp|website=The News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/429948-Horse-trading-Senate-elections-allowed-PPP-win-two-KP-seats-Imran-Khan|title=Horse trading in Senate elections allowed PPP win two KP seats: Imran - Pakistan - Dunya News|work=Dunya News|access-date=2018-03-04|language=en-US}}</ref>
Another surprise win was by Chaudhry Sarwar of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from a general seat in Punjab who gained 44 first priority and 2 second priority votes - the most in the assembly this election.<ref name="punjab">{{cite web|title=Senate Elections 2018 - Punjab Winning Candidate Names Have Been Declared By The Returning Officer|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/PrintDocument.aspx?PressId=54811&type=PDF|website=Election Commission of Pakistan|accessdate=4 March 2018}}</ref> This was a surprise because the result came about despite the PTI-PML (Q) alliance only having 38 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1387259|title=PML-Q, PTI to contest Senate elections together: Pervaiz Elahi|last=Malik|first=Arif|date=2018-02-04|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-03-04|language=en-US}}</ref> This indicated that Sarwar had also been voted for by members of Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Peoples Party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/429885-Chaudhry-Sarwar-claims-PTI-first-senator-Punjab|title=Ch Sarwar says he will be PTI's first senator from Punjab - Pakistan - Dunya News|work=Dunya News|access-date=2018-03-04|language=en-US}}</ref>
Finally, on a Women seat from Sindh, Krishna Kolhi of the PPP became the first Dalit to be elected to the Senate of Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1650887/1-pakistan-elects-first-female-dalit-senator/|title=Pakistan elects first female Dalit senator - The Express Tribune|date=2018-03-04|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=2018-03-06|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/world/asia/pakistan-hindu-woman-senate.html|title=Pakistan Elects First Lower-Caste Hindu Woman to Senate|last=Masood|first=Salman|date=2018-03-05|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-03-06|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1393129|title=In historic first, a Thari Hindu woman has been elected to the Senate|date=2018-03-04|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-03-06|language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Results by Administrative Units === ''NOTE: All PML-N candidates officially ran as Independents''
====Provinces==== {| class="wikitable" |+ ! colspan="8" |Punjab |- !Seat Type ! colspan="7" |Winners |- !General |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Asif Kirmani (PML-N) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Shaheen Butt (PML-N) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Haroon Khan (PML-N) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Musadik Malik (PML-N) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Rana Maqbool (PML-N) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Mehmoodul Hassan (PML-N) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Chaudhry Sarwar (PTI) |- !Technocrat | colspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Ishaq Dar (PML-N) | colspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Hafiz Abdul Karim (PML-N) |- !Women | colspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Saadia Abbasi (PML-N) | colspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Nuzhat Sadiq (PML-N) |- !Minority | colspan="7" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Kamran Micheal (PML-N) |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ ! colspan="8" |Sindh |- !Seat Type ! colspan="7" |Winners |- !General |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Raza Rabbani (PPP) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Bux Chandio (PPP) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Ali Shah Jamote (PPP) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Mustafa Nawaz Khokar (PPP) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Sikandar Menghro (PPP) |style="background:{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}"|Farogh Naseem (MQM) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (F)}};color:white"|Muzaffar Hussain (PML-F) |- !Technocrat | colspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Rukhsana Zubairi (PPP) | colspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Sikander Mandhro (PPP) |- !Women | colspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Qurultain Marri (PPP) | colspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Krishna Kolhi (PPP) |- !Minority | colspan="7" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Anwar Laal Dean (PPP) |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ ! colspan="8" |Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |- !Seat Type ! colspan="7" |Winners |- !General |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Faisal Javed (PTI) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Muhammad Ayub (PTI) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Fida Muhammad (PTI) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Pir Sabir Shah (PML-N) |style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Bahramand Tangi (PPP) |style="background:#E3E80F"|Talha Mahmood (JUI-F) |style="background:{{party color|Jamaat-e-Islami}};color:white"|Mushtaq Ahmed (JI) |- !Technocrat | colspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Azam Swati (PTI) | colspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white"|Dilawar Khan (PML-N) |- !Women | colspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}};color:white"|Meher Tag Roghani (PTI) | colspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Peoples Party}}; color:white"|Robina Khalid (PPP) |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ ! colspan="8" |Balochistan |- !Seat Type ! colspan="7" |Winners |- !General |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar (Independent) |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Ahmed Khan (Independent) |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Kauda Babar (Independent) |style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani (Independent) |style="background:orange;color:white"|Muhammad Shafiq Tareen (PkMAP) |style="background:#E3E80F"|Faiz Muhammad (JUI-F) |style="background:{{party color|National Party (Pakistan)}};color:white"|Muhammad Akram (NP) |- !Technocrat | colspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Independent}}"|Naseebullah Bazai (Independent) | colspan="4" style="background:{{party color|National Party (Pakistan)}}; color:white"|Tahir Bizenjo (NP) |- !Women | colspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Independent}}"|Sana Jamali (Independent) | colspan="3" style="background:orange;color:white"|Abida Umar (PkMAP) |}
==== Federally Administered Units ==== ''NOTE: FATA only has general seats, while Islamabad has 1 general and 1 technocrat seat that were up in this election.'' {| class="wikitable" |+ ! colspan="5" |FATA |- ! Seat Type ! colspan="4"|Winners |- !General | style="background:{{party color|Independent}}" |Shammim Afridi (Independent) | style="background:{{party color|Independent}}" |Mirza Muhammad Afridi (Independent) | style="background:{{party color|Independent}}" |Hidayat Ullah (Independent) | style="background:{{party color|Independent}}" |Hillal ur Rehman (Independent) |} {| class="wikitable" |+ ! colspan="2"|ICT |- !Seat Type !Winners |- !General | style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white" |Asad Junejo (PML-N) |- !Technocrat | style="background:{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}};color:white" |Mushahid Hussain (PML-N) |}
==Election of Chairman and Deputy Chairman== After the winning candidates have been notified by the Election Commission, there is a one-week delay until they take oath. During that time, retiring senators make their farewell speeches<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1393966|title=Aitzaz Ahsan tears into PML-N in farewell speech, says Sharifs 'creating room' for a dictator|last=Guramani|first=Nadir|date=2018-03-08|work=Dawn|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thefrontierpost.com/zardari-removes-babar-spokesperson-farewell-speech-senate/|title=Zardari removes Babar as spokesperson after his farewell speech in Senate|date=2018-03-08|work=The Frontier Post|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1394192/|title=Always upheld the supremacy of parliament, Rabbani says in his farewell address|last=Guramani|first=Nadir|date=2018-03-09|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en-US}}</ref> and any objections on the successful candidates is handled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/03/10/sc-allows-dual-nationality-holders-to-vote-for-senate-top-seats/|title=SC allows dual nationality holders to vote for Senate top seats|website=Pakistan Today|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-03-12}}</ref> After this time has lapsed, the reconstituted senate elects their Chairman and Deputy Chairman by a simple majority via a secret ballot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotnn.com/newly-elected-51-senators-take-oath-secret-ballot-for-senates-top-slots-today/|title=Newly-elected 51 senators take oath, secret ballot for Senate's top slots today|website=Tribal News Network|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-12}}</ref>
===Candidates and Results=== Two candidates apiece, from the opposition and treasury benches, contested the elections on 12 March 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1394784/|title=PML-N pitches Raja Zafarul Haq against opposition-backed Sadiq Sanjrani|last=Chaudhry|first=Fahad|date=2018-03-12|work=Dawn|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en-US}}</ref> Joint opposition's candidates, Sadiq Sanjrani and Saleem Mandviwalla, won the elections for their respective seats.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1394784/pml-n-defeated-opposition-candidates-sanjrani-mandviwalla-take-senates-top-slots|title=PML-N defeated: Opposition candidates Sanjrani, Mandviwalla take Senate's top slots|last=Chaudhry|first=Fahad|date=2018-03-12|work=Dawn|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1657562/1-senate-oath-taking-ceremony-underway/|title=Opposition’s Sadiq Sanjrani elected 8th chairman of Senate|date=2018-03-12|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en-US}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+ !Candidate !Contesting for !Party !Votes Obtained !Supported by |- |'''Sadiq Sanjrani''' |Chairmanship |Independent | style="text-align:center;" |'''57''' {{tick|15}} | rowspan="2" | Opposition Benches Independents |- |'''Saleem Mandviwalla''' |Deputy Chairmanship |PPP | style="text-align:center;" |'''54''' {{tick|15}} |- |Raja Zafar-ul-Haq |Chairmanship |PML-N | style="text-align:center;" |46 {{cross|15}} | rowspan="2" |Treasury Benches |- |Usman Khan Kakar |Deputy Chairmanship |PkMAP |style="text-align:center;"|44 {{cross|15}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Senate of Pakistan}}
Senate Senate election Category:Senate elections in Pakistan