PTI-backed Khurram Zeeshan won the Senate seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), securing 91 votes to fill the Khurram Zeeshan Senate win Article 63 vacancy left by the disqualification of former Leader of Opposition Shibli Faraz over a May 9 case conviction. The election for the general seat was conducted by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) at the Provincial Assembly building, concluding a tumultuous period of legal uncertainty surrounding the seat.
Why the KP Senate Victory Matters
The swift filling of the vacant upper house seat is a crucial indicator of the balance of power in the KP Provincial Assembly, reflecting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) consolidated political strength despite the severe legal setbacks faced by its senior leadership. Khurram Zeeshan’s victory ensures the PTI retains a vital voice in the Senate, even as the party navigates a complex judicial environment. The Khurram Zeeshan Senate win Article 63 vacancy event provides crucial insight into the current political mobilisation capabilities of the opposition faction within the provincial legislature.
Election Results and Voting Dynamics
Khurram Zeeshan, who was backed by the PTI, secured an overwhelming majority in the by-election. The senator-elect garnered 91 votes from the KP Provincial Assembly members. This tally comfortably surpassed the simple majority required for victory in the 145-member house, where 73 votes constituted the winning threshold.
His principal opponent, Taj Muhammad Afridi, secured 45 ballots. A third candidate, Irfan Saleem, was also in the contest. The results underline the PTI’s dominance within the KP Assembly, which holds a majority of 92 members. The Khurram Zeeshan Senate win Article 63 vacancy marked the formal confirmation of the new senator’s tenure, succeeding Syed Shibli Faraz.
The Legal Basis: Moral Turpitude Conviction Article 63 Pakistan
The vacancy was created due to the ECP’s decision to disqualify Syed Shibli Faraz, a prominent PTI member who served as the Leader of Opposition in the Senate from April 2024 until August 2025. Faraz was disqualified on 5 August 2025 after being convicted in connection with the May 9, 2023, riots that followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The ECP’s notification cited Article 63 of the Constitution of Pakistan. This specific legal framework sets out the grounds for the disqualification of members of Parliament. A conviction for an offence involving moral turpitude conviction Article 63 Pakistan, coupled with a sentence of imprisonment exceeding two years, automatically triggers disqualification. Faraz, along with over 100 other PTI leaders and workers, including Omar Ayub Khan and Zartaj Gul, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad for their alleged involvement in the attacks on military and state buildings. This 10-year sentence met the constitutional criterion, leading to the application of the Article 63 moral turpitude clause.
Contested Disqualification and Judicial Review
The application of Article 63 of the Constitution has faced significant legal challenge. PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan publicly contested the ECP’s authority to unilaterally disqualify a sitting senator without receiving a formal reference from the Senate Chairman. He maintained that this procedural step, outlined in clause (2) and (3) of Article 63, is a mandatory constitutional requirement.
Furthermore, the legal landscape surrounding Faraz’s conviction has been complex. The disqualification order followed the Faisalabad ATC’s judgement. However, earlier legal proceedings saw other anti-terrorism courts acquitting accused individuals in similar cases, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. This judicial divergence created ambiguity over the legal standing of the moral turpitude conviction Article 63 Pakistan decision.
The gravity of the dispute prompted the Supreme Court of Pakistan to intervene. The court approved a request to temporarily delay the Senate by-election and directed the Peshawar High Court to conduct a full hearing and review of the disqualification case. This action underscores the judiciary’s role in ensuring due constitutional process is followed in electoral matters involving prominent political figures. The Khurram Zeeshan Senate win Article 63 vacancy was thus confirmed only after navigating a series of high-level judicial reviews.
Background of the Former Senator
Prior to his disqualification on 5 August 2025 , Syed Shibli Faraz had maintained a high-profile political career. He had been a Member of the Senate representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2015. His tenure included serving as the Leader of the Senate of Pakistan from August 2018 to June 2020 and subsequently holding key ministerial portfolios, including Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Federal Minister for Science and Technology. He was serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate when the ECP issued its disqualification notice.
What’s Next: Appeal and Finality
While Khurram Zeeshan has been declared the winner and the Khurram Zeeshan Senate win Article 63 vacancy is formally filled, the underlying legal challenge to Shibli Faraz’s disqualification remains critical. Faraz has indicated his intention to appeal both the ATC judgement and his subsequent disqualification. The finality of Zeeshan’s tenure rests on the outcome of the Supreme Court-mandated judicial review by the Peshawar High Court concerning the validity of the moral turpitude conviction Article 63 Pakistan clause being applied in this context. The Senate by-election was conducted under the relevant legal provisions, including the Senate (Election) Act, 1975, and its associated rules.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, October 30th, 2025
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