Web Desk (MNN); Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja stated on Sunday that public interest remained low in the by-elections, as the results were not expected to significantly alter the overall political scenario.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, he said the by-elections were conducted peacefully, noting that low voter turnout is common in such elections. He thanked the provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for their cooperation.
Raja explained that a key reason for the low turnout was that the by-elections were unlikely to change parliamentary strength, which reduced voter enthusiasm. He added that the Election Commission took action against code-of-conduct violations without discrimination. Several reports were submitted by district returning officers, and the Commission also took suo motu notice of some complaints.
The CEC confirmed that no major irregularities were reported on polling day. He also stated that Minister of State Senator Talal Chaudhry had been summoned for a hearing on Monday regarding a code-of-conduct violation, recalling that similar breaches in local government elections had led to disqualification.
Meanwhile, a returning officer has issued a notice to senior PML-N leader and former MNA Abid Sher Ali for violating ballot secrecy during the PP-116 Faisalabad by-election. Video footage showed him stamping his ballot paper in the presence of polling staff and others, which is prohibited under election laws. Abid Sher Ali has been summoned to provide an explanation.
Vote counting is underway for six National Assembly and seven Punjab Assembly constituencies. By-elections were held in Haripur, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha, Mianwali, and Muzaffargarh.
Key National Assembly Unofficial Results
- NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan: PML-N Mahmood Qadir Laghari 27,941, PPP Sardar Dost Khosa 13,624
- NA-143 Chichawatni: PML-N Chaudhry Muhammad Tufail Jutt 75,449, Independent Zarar Akbar 7,305
- NA-18 Haripur: Independent Shehernaz Umar Ayub 76,265, PML-N Babar Nawaz 73,775
- NA-129 Lahore: PML-N Hafiz Nauman 15,218, PTI-supported Choudhry Arsalan 9,408
- NA-96 Faisalabad: PML-N Bilal Badr 21,960, Independent Malik Nawab Sher Wesir 9,028
- NA-104 Faisalabad: PML-N Raja Danial 20,521, Independent Rana Adnan 7,647
Key Punjab Assembly Unofficial Results
- PP-203 Sahiwal: PML-N Chaudhry Hanif Jutt 40,519, Independent Falak Sher Dogar 9,501
- PP-73 Sargodha: PML-N Sultan Ali Ranjha 23,697, Independent Haris Ranjha 5,726
- PP-98 Faisalabad: PML-N Azad Ali Tabsum 5,932, Independent Ajmal Cheema 5,546
- PP-115 Faisalabad: PML-N Mian Tahir Jamil 12,431, Independent Ahad Cheema 868
- PP-116 Faisalabad: PML-N Rana Shaharyar 23,789, Independent Asghar Qaiser 5,865
- PP-87 Mianwali: PML-N Ali Haider Noor 6,020, Independent Nawabzada Ayaz Khan 772
- PP-269 Muzaffargarh: PPP Alamdar Abbas Qureshi 42,976, Independent Iqbal Khan Pitafi 30,072
The Election Commission continues to monitor the counting process. These results are unofficial and non-final.
