ISLAMABAD: The polling for by-elections in 13 National Assembly and Punjab Assembly constituencies began at 8am on Sunday, with voting scheduled to continue until 5pm. The seats became vacant primarily following the disqualification of several Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers convicted in cases related to the May 9, 2023, unrest that erupted after former prime minister Imran Khan’s arrest.
In this regard, six National Assembly constituencies NA-18 (Haripur), NA-96 (Faisalabad), NA-104 (Faisalabad), NA-129 (Lahore), NA-143 (Sahiwal) and NA-185 (Dera Ghazi Khan) and seven Punjab Assembly constituencies are witnessing electoral contests.
The provincial seats include PP-73 (Sargodha), PP-87 (Mianwali), PP-98 (Faisalabad), PP-115 (Faisalabad), PP-116 (Faisalabad), PP-203 (Sahiwal) and PP-269 (Muzaffargarh).
Enhanced Security Measures
Furthermore, more than 20,000 police personnel have been deployed across Punjab to maintain order during the polling process. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also placed armed forces personnel on standby as third-tier responders.
The troops have been positioned outside polling stations designated as “most sensitive,” with instructions to ensure a secure environment while strictly adhering to constitutional and legal guidelines.
Security forces have been directed to avoid interfering with the voting process. They may only restrict entry in cases involving weapons, prohibited items or attempts to incite violence.
National Assembly Contests
Moreover, in NA-18, the seat previously held by PTI’s opposition leader Omar Ayub is being contested by his wife, Shehrnaz Omar Ayub, who is running for public office for the first time. She faces Babar Nawaz as her main opponent.
In this sense, NA-96 sees PML-N candidate Muhammad Bilal Badar Chaudhry, brother of Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, competing for the seat. In NA-104, PML-N’s Daniyal Ahmed, son of former opposition leader Raja Riaz, is contesting against three independent candidates.
The NA-129 seat, vacated after the passing of senior PTI figure Mian Muhammad Azhar, features a contest between his grandson Chaudhry Arsalan and PML-N’s Hafiz Mian Muhammad Noman. In NA-143, PML-N’s Muhammad Tufail Jutt faces independent candidate Zarrar Akbar Choudhary. NA-185’s key contenders include PPP’s Dost Muhammad Khosa and PML-N’s Mehmood Qadir Khan Laghari.
Punjab Assembly Contests
The PML-N has fielded candidates across most provincial constituencies, including Mian Sultan Ali Ranjha in PP-73 and Azad Ali Tabbasum in PP-98. In PP-115, Muhammad Tahir Pervez faces three independents and one AJPP candidate, while in PP-116, Ahmed Shaharyar son-in-law of Senator Rana Sanaullah is contesting against several independents and a PNP candidate.
In PP-203, PML-N’s Muhammad Hanif Jutt is competing against independent candidate Falak Sher Dogar.
