QUETTA: Nine candidates from six parliamentary parties, including former caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, were elected as Senate members unopposed from Balochistan on Thursday. Now, the April 2 election will be held on only two seats reserved for technocrats in the province.

Twenty out of the 33 Senate candidates withdrew their nomination papers on Wednesday, the last date for withdrawal.

Therefore, 13 candidates were left to contest for 11 Senate seats from Balochistan, including seven general seats, two for technocrats, and two reserved seats.

After five female candidates withdrew, two remained in the field to contest the election, the Balochistan election commissioner, Muhammad Fareed Afridi, said on Thursday and declared Rahat Faiq Jamali and Husna Bibi of PPP elected unopposed as senators.

The seven senators elected unopposed on general seats from the province are former caretaker premier Mr Kakar (independent), Saidal Khan Nasar (PML-N), Agha Shahzeb Durrani (PML-N), Sardar Umar Gorgage (PPP), Jan Muhammad Buledi (National Party), Ahmed Khan Khilji (JUI-F) and Aimal Wali Khan (ANP).

Eight candidates remained for the seven general seats, but the PPP candidate, Ejaz Ahmed, left the race on Thursday.

According to the final list of the candidates, three are now left on two reserved seats for technocrats in Balochistan.

The included Muhammad Bilal Mandokhail (PPP), Maulana Abdul Wasey (JUI-F) and Maslehud Din (independent). However, efforts were underway to encourage Mr Din to step down from the race.