PML-N sweeps Punjab, KP by-elections, bags 12 out of 13 seats
Extensive security and logistical measures in place to ensure transparent and orderly polling
-
Polling for by-elections started at 8am and continued without any break until 5pm.
-
ECP bars media from airing early by-election results
-
20,000 cops deployed as 408 polling stations declared highly sensitive in Punjab
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE ( WEB NEWS )
The polling was peaceful, but voter turnout was relatively low. PML-N workers celebrated the victory by distributing sweets and exploding fireworks.
Earlier, polling in six NA and seven PA seats on Sunday came to an end and counting was underway, with preliminary results showing PML-N heading for a landslide victory in by-elections. The counting of votes began as polling came to a close for 13 constituencies of the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly seats.
PML-N HAFIZ NOMAN WINS IN NA-129 LAHORE
The unofficial and complete results of 334 polling stations of the NA-129 by-election have been announced.
According to the unofficial results, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Hafiz Noman won the election. Hafiz Noman came in first place with 63,441 votes.
PML-N candidate Hafiz Noman has a lead of 34,342 votes, while PTI-backed independent candidate got 29,099 votes.
Additionally, turnout in 334 polling stations was 18.67 percent.
PML-N TUFAIL JUTT WINS IN NA-143 SAHIWAL-3
Dunya News once again stayed ahead of the game as complete unofficial results from all 442 polling stations of NA-143 Sahiwal-3 came in on Sunday night.
According to the early results received by Dunya News, PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Tufail Jutt won the by-election with 136,313 votes, leaving behind all competitors.
Independent candidate Zarar Akbar finished in second place with 13,120 votes.
PML-N QADIR KHAN WINS IN NA-185 DG KHAN 2
According to unofficial and unconfirmed results from all 226 polling stations in NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan 2, PML-N Mehmood Qadir Khan won by securing 82,413 votes.
PPP Dost Muhammad Khosa came in second place with 49,262 votes.
PML-N MUHAMMAD HANIF WINS IN PP-203 SAHIWAL-6
According to unofficial results of all 185 polling stations in Punjab Assembly constituency PP-203 Sahiwal-6, Muhammad Hanif of the PML-N won by securing 46,900 votes, while independent candidate Falak Sher came in second with 10,895 votes.
PML-N TAHIR PERVEZ WINS IN PP-115 FAISALABAD-18
Unofficial results of all 159 polling stations of Punjab Assembly constituency PP-115 Faisalabad-18 have been released. Muhammad Tahir Pervez of PML-N was declared successful with 49,049 votes, while independent candidate Muhammad Asghar came in second with only 1,898 votes.
PML-N DANIYAL AHMED WINS IN NA-104 FAISALABAD
According to the unofficial results of all 375 polling stations in NA-104 Faisalabad, PML-N Daniyal Ahmed won by securing 52,791 votes, while his opponent, independent candidate Rana Adnan Javed, came in second with 19,262 votes.
PML-N BABAR NAWAZ WINS IN NA-18 HARIPUR
According to the unofficial results of NA-18 Haripur, PML-N candidate Babar Nawaz Khan came in first place with 124,969 votes, while independent candidate Shehrnaz Omar Ayub came in second place with 89,446 votes.
PML-N ALI HAIDER WINS IN PP-87 MIANWALI-3
According to the unofficial results from 193 polling stations in Punjab Assembly constituency PP-87 Mianwali-3, Ali Haider Noor Khan Niazi of the Muslim League (N) came in first place with 67,870 votes, while his opponent, independent candidate Muhammad Ayaz Khan Niazi, came in second place with 6,368 votes.
PML-N AHMED SHEHRYAR WINS IN PP-116 FAISALABAD-19
According to the unofficial results of all polling stations in Punjab Assembly constituency PP-116 Faisalabad-19, PML-N Ahmed Shehryar came in first place with 48,824 votes, while independent candidate Malik Asghar Ali Qaiser came in second place with 11,429 votes.
PML-N MIAN SULTAN ALI WINS IN PP-73 SARGODHA
According to the unofficial results of the Punjab Assembly constituency PP-73 Sargodha, Mian Sultan Ali Ranjha of the Muslim League (N) won by securing 71,770 votes, while his opponent, independent candidate Muhammad Haris, came in second.
PML-N AZAD ALI TABASSUM WINS IN PP-98 FAISALABAD-1
According to the results of all polling stations in Punjab Assembly constituency PP-98 Faisalabad-1, PML-N Azad Ali Tabassum won first with 44,388 votes, while his opponent, independent candidate Muhammad Asghar Malik, came in second with 35,246 votes.
PML-N HANIF JATT WINS IN PP-203 CHICHAWATNI
According to the unofficial results of Punjab Assembly constituency PP-203 Chichawatni, Chaudhry Hanif Jatt of the Muslim League (N) was successful, independent candidate Falak Sher came in second place. Chaudhry Hanif Jatt of the PML-N won by getting 46,820 votes, independent candidate Falak Sher came in second place by getting 10,975 votes.
PPP ALAMDAR ABBAS WINS IN PP-269 MUZAFFARGARH
According to the unofficial and unconfirmed results of the Punjab Assembly constituency PP-269 Muzaffargarh, PPP Mian Alamdar Abbas Qureshi was declared victorious by securing 55,868 votes, while his opponent, independent candidate Muhammad Iqbal Khan Pitafi, came in second place.
PML-N BILAL BADR WINS IN NA-96 FAISALABAD
According to the unofficial results of all polling stations in NA-96 Faisalabad, Muhammad Bilal Badr of the Muslim League (N) won by securing 93,09 votes, while independent candidate Nawab Sher Wasir came in second with 43,025 votes.
Election officials said the voter turnout remained low, standing at around 24%, as many voters chose to stay away from the polls.
According to the Election Commission (ECP), the polling for by-elections started at 8am and concluded without any break until 5pm.
Most seats became vacant after PTI lawmakers were disqualified for their alleged role in the violent May 9, 2023 riots following former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest.
The counting of votes began as polling came to a close for 13 constituencies of the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly seats on Sunday.
According to the Election Commission (ECP), the polling for by-elections started at 8am and concluded without any break until 5pm.
Most seats became vacant after PTI lawmakers were disqualified for their alleged role in the violent May 9, 2023 riots following former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest.
Earlier, the ECP had finalised all arrangement for holding by-elections under extensive security measures to ensure transparent and orderly polling.
A spokesperson for Punjab Police said that more than 20,000 police officers and personnel have been deployed to perform election security duties.
IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar said that Punjab Police will ensure a peaceful and secure environment for voters so they can exercise their constitutional right to vote without fear or hesitation.
He reaffirmed that a strict policy of zero tolerance will be observed against any violations of the Election Commission’s code of conduct, Section 144, and the ban on displaying or carrying weapons.
The IG said police personnel have been deployed at 939 male, 889 female, and 964 joint polling stations, bringing the total to 2,792 polling stations across Punjab.
Of these, 408 have been declared highly sensitive and 1,032 sensitive. CCTV cameras have been installed at all highly sensitive polling stations, and the polling process will be monitored in real time.
The election campaign for by-elections concluded at midnight on November 21. The ECP had warned that strict action would be taken against anyone found violating the election code of conduct.
It is worth noting that these elections will also reflect political tussle in Punjab, where the PML-N, the PTI, and the PPP are striving to strengthen their positions. However, PTI still remains deprived of its electoral symbol as a political party.
NA-18
Nine candidates are contesting the by-election for NA-18 Haripur. A tough contest is expected between the PTI-backed independent candidate Shehrnaz, PML-N’s Babar Nawaz Khan, and PPP’s Erum Fatima. This seat became vacant after PTI’s Omar Ayub was convicted and disqualified in the May 9 riots case.
NA-96
In the electoral battle for NA-96, 16 candidates from the PML-N, the PPP, and independent are in the run. The constituency has 372,133 registered male voters and 272,991 registered female voters.
NA-104
In NA-104, five candidates — including PML-N’s Raja Daniyal and independent candidate Rana Adnan Javed — are in the fray. A total of 557,637 voters will exercise their right to vote in this National Assembly constituency.
NA-129
A close contest is expected between PML-N’s Hafiz Nauman, and independent candidates Bajash Khan Niazi and Arsalan Ahmed. A total of 334 polling stations have been set up in this constituency, of which 70 are combined for both men and women. The NA-129 seat became vacant due to the death of Mian Azhar.
According to political analysts, NA-129 is one of Lahore’s most important constituencies. This election is also significant because it covers key central areas of the city, and the victory here directly influences Lahore’s overall political direction.
NA-143
NA-143 is the third-largest constituency in Sahiwal, Punjab. A tough contest is expected between the PML-N candidate and the PTI-backed candidate. The constituency has a total of 584,698 registered voters.
NA-185
In NA-185, the PPP has fielded a candidate against PML-N. A fierce contest is expected between candidates of PML-N, PPP, and JUI.
For the National Assembly, voting will be held in NA-18 Haripur, NA-96 Faisalabad, NA-104 Faisalabad, NA-129 Lahore, NA-143 Sahiwal, NA-185 DG Khan. Similarly, votes will be cast in Punjab Assembly constituencies PP-73 Sargodha, PP-87 Mianwali, PP-98 Faisalabad, PP-115 Faisalabad, PP-116 Faisalabad, PP-203 Sahiwal and PP-269 Muzaffargarh.
The constituencies fell vacant following the disqualification of lawmakers in connection with cases stemming from the May 9 events.
The federal government has sanctioned the deployment of Pakistan Army personnel to maintain security during the by-elections.
According to the official notification, troops will be stationed in designated constituencies from November 22 to 24, serving as a reserve force to support election security arrangements.
Meanwhile, the ECP has barred media outlets from broadcasting unofficial results of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab by-elections until one hour after the close of polls.
The ECP directed that only Returning Officers are authorised to announce official results, warning that premature reporting could mislead the public.
It stated that media organisations must not air or publish unofficial results until at least one hour after the close of polling, and any results released thereafter must be clearly marked as “unofficial and incomplete.”
The ECP cautioned that violations of these instructions would be referred to the relevant authorities for disciplinary action. It reiterated that the final and official result of any constituency will only be issued by the concerned Returning Officer.