
PML-N's Hafiz Abdul Karim elected member of Senate
The PML-N-backed candidate got 243 votes and became Senator on the seat that fell vacant after the demise of Prof Sajid Mir.
The voting began at 9:00am and continued until 4:00pm. A total of 345 members cast their votes for the seat, with four candidates in the race.
The PML-N appointed Chief Whip Rana Arshad as its polling agent, while the opposition nominated Rana Shehbaz for the role.
The candidates include PML-N's Hafiz Abdul Karim, PTI's Mehr Abdul Sattar, and independent contenders Khadija Siddiqi and Ejaz Minhas.
The newly elected Senator, Hafiz Abdul Karim, expressed gratitude to the PML-N leadership and allied parties' members, pledging to raise a strong voice in the Upper House for the betterment of the country and public welfare. He vowed to actively represent Punjab and contribute to national policymaking.
PML-N Chief Whip Rana Muhammad Arshad stated that the ruling coalition members remained united and fully followed the party leadership's instructions. Party leader Shoaib Siddiqui expressed confidence that Hafiz Abdul Karim would effectively represent Punjab, the country's largest province, in the Senate.
During the voting process, PML-N senior leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif cut short her visit to flood-affected areas to arrive at the Punjab Assembly to ensure support for her party's candidate. Both the ruling alliance and opposition actively campaigned for their respective candidates throughout the election process.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
20 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Social media and U-16s
Listen to article The Senate is considering a groundbreaking bill to ban social media access for children under 16, citing mental health risks, cyberbullying and predatory content. The bill would impose fines up to Rs5 million on non-compliant platforms and even jail time for adults aiding minors in setting up or using social media. But while safeguarding youth is a laudable goal, this proposal suffers from fatal flaws in enforcement and overreach, risking privacy and digital rights. Proponents rightly argue that social media exposes children to several harms, including anxiety and depression, vulnerability to exploitation and distraction from studies. The bill also aligns with global steps such as Australia's recent under-16 ban and the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, which mandates parental consent for minors to use several types of online services and products, including social media. The problem, however, is that the mechanics of age verification pose severe practical and ethical challenges. Requiring platforms like TikTok or Instagram to authenticate ages could force 16-year-olds to submit government IDs or biometric data. As seen in EU trials, such systems create honeypots for hackers and normalise surveillance. Meanwhile, Pakistan's own history of internet bans has made almost everyone familiar with VPNs. Tech-savvy teens will almost certainly find ways to circumvent age gates whenever they want. At the same time, PTA would need to audit millions of accounts — a herculean task for an agency already struggling with enforcing politicised censorship under PECA and related laws. The bill also overlooks nuances such as parental autonomy. Many argue that monitoring children's online activity should rest with families, not the state. Instead of unenforceable prohibitions, the government should invest in digital literacy programmes for schools and parents, including encouraging family rules for responsible social media use, and work with platforms and international partners to encourage platform accountability via transparent content moderation.


Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Eight terrorists killed in Kalat IBOs: ISPR
Listen to article Security forces have killed eight terrorists during two successive intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan's Kalat district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday. According to the military's media wing, the first operation was launched on July 19, targeting a location suspected of harbouring terrorists linked to the group. 'During the operation, four terrorists were successfully neutralized,' the ISPR stated. Acting on intelligence gathered during the mission, a follow-up sanitization operation was carried out on July 21 in the surrounding areas. 'Four more terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan were hunted down and sent to hell,' the ISPR added. Security personnel also discovered and dismantled a terrorist hideout during the course of the operations. A large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the site. Also Read: 200 stranded tourists rescued in G-B after flash floods 'Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain resolute in defeating all threats to the peace, stability, and progress of Balochistan,' the ISPR emphasized, reaffirming the military's commitment to eradicating terrorism. President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for the successful operation. In his statement, the President commended the forces for 'bringing anti-state elements to justice with courage and professional excellence.' 'Terrorists seek to sabotage peace and stability — something that will not be allowed under any circumstances. The nation is united, and terrorism will be defeated at all costs,' he stated, adding that operations would continue until terrorism is completely eradicated from Pakistan. Read: Bangladesh air force jet crash kills 27, mostly children Separately, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also praised the security forces, calling the operation in Kalat a significant success. 'We salute the security forces for sending Indian-backed terrorists to hell and foiling their malicious intentions through timely action,' he said. Naqvi added that the nation viewed such efforts with admiration. 'The humiliating end of these Indian-sponsored terrorists sends a clear message — there is no hiding place for such conspiracies in Pakistan. Every last terrorist will be eliminated from the country,' he asserted.


Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PSX hits record over army chief's support for businesses
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) soared to a new all-time high on Tuesday, driven by investor confidence following a high-level meeting between business leaders and Army Chief Asim Munir, where assurances of institutional support for economic progress were given. The government's success in securing a majority in Senate elections, optimism surrounding the State Bank of Pakistan's (SBP) expected monetary easing and forecasts of robust corporate earnings further reinforced the market rally. The benchmark KSE-100 index soared to intra-day high of 1,684 points, before settling at 139,419.62, an increase of 1,202.03 points, or 0.87%. Market Snapshot – July 22, 2025 Unlock today's market moves and stay one step ahead! — PSX (@pakstockexgltd) July 22, 2025 According to Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corp, stocks traded at a new all-time high, after business leaders met with army chief and were assured of the military's support for economic progress. Additionally, the government won a majority in Senate seats, further bolstering bullish sentiment. Speculation about the SBP's anticipated policy easing next week, alongside expectations of strong financial results and annual payouts in the earnings season, fuelled the bullish activity at the PSX, he added. In its market review, Topline Securities commented that bulls roared back to life in Tuesday's trading session, lifting the benchmark index to impressive levels. The index surged to intra-day high of 1,684 points, before closing at 139,420, reflecting a solid gain of 1,202 points. The rally was fuelled by positive investor sentiment and renewed market confidence as the index moved upwards ahead of the anticipated announcement of strong corporate results. This wave of optimism helped paint a bullish picture across the board, setting the tone for a potentially upbeat week ahead, Topline said. Overall trading volumes increased to 629 million shares compared with Monday's tally of 608.2 million. Traded value stood at Rs34.7 billion. Shares of 478 companies were traded. Of these, 268 stocks closed higher, 178 fell and 32 remained unchanged. First Dawood Properties was the volume leader with trading in 44.1 million shares, gaining one rupee to close at Rs7.64 per share.