Islamabad, November 17, 2025: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday announced the schedule for the by-election to fill the Senate seat vacated by the late PML-N leader Irfan Siddiqui.
Siddiqui, a seasoned politician and close aide to PML-N president Nawaz Sharif, passed away on November 10, shortly after the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed, which introduced reforms in the judicial hierarchy and clarified the titles and ranking of top judges and military officials.
According to the ECP, the by-election is scheduled for December 9. Candidates can submit their nomination papers from November 20 to 21, with scrutiny to be completed by November 25. The last date for filing appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nominations is November 29, while candidates may withdraw their papers by December 1. Polling will take place in the Punjab Assembly from 9am to 7pm.
Siddiqui was an active member of several Senate committees, including Foreign Affairs, Business Advisory, Human Rights, Information and Broadcasting, Interior and Narcotics Control, and National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.
Notably, the 27th Amendment Bill had passed both houses of Parliament with a majority vote. In the Senate, members from opposition parties — including the Awami National Party, PTI-backed Saifullah Abro, and JUI-F’s Ahmed Khan — voted in favour of the amendment.
The by-election will determine Siddiqui’s successor, with parties now preparing to field candidates ahead of the December vote.
