Unhappy MPAs in Sindh may hurt PTI's position in Senate poll.

Byline: Azfar-ul-Ashfaque

KARACHI -- The alleged defection of two Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmakers is going to hurt the joint opposition in the Sindh Assembly that has fielded five candidates for the Senate election, polling for which is going to be held today (Wednesday).

The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party has fielded 11 candidates on all 11 Senate seats - seven general and two each reserved for technocrats and women - in disproportion to its 99-lawmaker strength in the 168-strong house.

The joint opposition, which comprises PTI, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and Grand Democratic Alliance, has jointly nominated five candidates - three on general seats and one each on technocrat and women reserved seats - in view of its total strength ie 65 in the house.

Sindh Assembly members, along with their peers in other legislatures, will cast their votes in upper house election today

The PTI is the largest opposition party in the Sindh Assembly and the number of its MPAs is 30 followed by 21 lawmakers of the MQM-P and 14 of the GDA. Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan with three lawmakers and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal with one MPA are also opposition parties but they are not part of the joint opposition's three-party alliance.

Twenty-four votes are required for winning one general seat and 56 votes are needed for a reserved seat.

Prior to the alleged defection of PTI lawmakers Sheharyar Shar and Aslam Abro, it was safe to predict PPP's victory on six Senate seats - four general seats and one reserved seat each for technocrats and women - and the opposition alliance's success on five seats including three general and one reserved seat each.

Mr Shar and Mr Abro have made it clear that they would not vote for PTI's candidates.

Sources said that the opposition's victory on one of the three general seats would become very difficult if...