Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Abid Sher Ali has been elected senator unopposed.
He had submitted nomination papers for the Senate’s general seat that became vacant following the death of Senator Irfan Siddiqui.
The by-election process concluded without any opposing candidate, paving the way for Abid Sher Ali’s smooth return to parliamentary politics. Party leaders described his unopposed election as a continuation of PML-N’s strong presence in the Senate after a significant loss in the form of Irfan Siddiqui’s passing.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui, an esteemed writer, columnist, educationist and seasoned politician, passed away earlier this month after suffering from respiratory complications. A prominent intellectual voice in Pakistan, he had served as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Affairs during an earlier PML-N government and was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his services to literature and journalism.
Elected to the Senate in 2021, Siddiqui was serving as the Parliamentary Leader of the PML-N in the upper house and chaired the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. His sudden death created a significant void in parliamentary circles, where he was widely respected for his eloquence, composure, and principled political stance.
Following his demise, the Senate adopted a unanimous resolution expressing deep sorrow and acknowledging his contributions to national discourse. His seat was subsequently declared vacant, triggering the by-poll in which Abid Sher Ali has now been elected.
With his unopposed victory, Sher Ali is expected to take oath in the coming days and formally assume his responsibilities as senator.
