Polling for by-elections on 13 National Assembly and Punjab Assembly seats began at 8am amid tight security and is set to conclude at 5pm today.
Most seats fell vacant after the disqualification of PTI lawmakers convicted for their alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023 violent riots following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The six NA constituencies where polling is taking place include one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, NA-18 (Haripur), and the rest in Punjab — NA-96 (Faisalabad), NA-104 (Faisalabad), NA-129 (Lahore), NA-143 (Sahiwal) and NA-185 (Dera Ghazi Khan).
The seven Punjab Assembly constituencies where by-polls are being held are PP-73 (Sargodha), PP-87 (Mianwali), PP-98 (Faisalabad), PP-115 (Faisalabad), PP-116 (Faisalabad), PP-203 (Sahiwal) and PP-269 (Muzaffargarh).
Security personnel deployed
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) code of conduct for the armed forces, troops will be deployed outside polling stations declared “most sensitive” and will remain in quick-response mode at the remaining stations as third-tier responders.
The personnel have been directed to perform duties strictly in accordance with Article 245 of the Constitution, the law and the mandate assigned to the armed forces to assist the election regulator.
While stationed outside selected polling stations, they have been instructed to focus solely on ensuring a secure environment, complying with all relevant laws, and maintaining public confidence by safeguarding voters and preserving law and order throughout the polling process.
They have been barred from preventing any eligible voter from entering a polling station, except in cases involving weapons, explosives, prohibited items or attempts to incite violence or threaten national security.
In Punjab, where by-elections for 12 of the 13 vacant seats are taking place, more than 20,000 police personnel have been deployed for security in the province’s national and provincial constituencies.
In a post on X, the Punjab police said it was on “high alert”. It asserted there was “zero tolerance” for the violation of the ECP’s code of conduct, restrictions under Section 144, and the ban on arms.
“The polling process is being continuously monitored from the Central Police Office, the Safe City Authority, and the control and monitoring rooms of districts,” the police said.
Noting that the police had the full assistance of the Rangers and the army, Punjab police chief Dr Usman Anwar said, “All formations, including the Dolphin Squad, Special Branch and CTD (Counter-Terrorism Department), are being employed for the elections’ security.”
In Faisalabad, where by-elections are being held on five seats, more than 6,500 security personnel were deployed at polling stations, APP quoted a police spokesman as saying.
He said that 1,240 polling stations were established in five constituencies, including 64 stations of Category-A, 610 of Category-B and 566 of Category-C.
National Assembly
The by-elections are being contested on six NA seats, including that of former NA opposition leader Omar Ayub on NA-18 in Haripur, where his wife, Shehrnaz Omar Ayub, is now contesting the seat and will face Babar Nawaz. She is contesting an election for the first time.
In NA-96, the PML-N has fielded Muhammad Bilal Badar Chaudhry, brother of Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry.
Meanwhile, in NA-104, the PML-N has nominated Daniyal Ahmed, who is contesting against three independent candidates. Ahmed previously contested the elections and lost to Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who secured 132,655 votes. Ahmed is the son of former NA opposition leader Raja Riaz.
In NA-129, the seat fell vacant following the death of former Punjab governor and PTI stalwart Mian Muhammad Azhar. His grandson Chaudhry Arsalan is now contesting the by-poll, while the PML-N has fielded Hafiz Mian Muhammad Noman.
PML-N’s Rana Mashhood Ahmad, head of Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, cast his vote at the Pak Angel School polling station in Union Council 100.
He said, “Every vote given to Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman is a guarantee of fair and strong mandate to advance the journey of public service, transparent leadership and sustainable development.”
For NA-143, PML-N has fielded Muhammad Tufail Jutt against independent candidate Zarrar Akbar Choudhary.
In NA-185, PPP’s Dost Muhammad Khosa and the PML-N’s Mehmood Qadir Khan Laghari are among the key candidates.
Punjab Assembly
In Punjab, candidates are set to contest over seven constituencies.
From PP-73, the PML-N has fielded Mian Sultan Ali Ranjha as its candidate.
In Mianwali’s PP-87, the PML-N has fielded Ali Haider Noor Khan as its candidate.
In PP-98, the party has nominated Azad Ali Tabbasum, who is contesting against nine independent candidates. The party had not nominated any candidate in this constituency in the 2024 elections, backing instead the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) candidate Muhammad Ajmal, who was runner-up to PTI-backed Junaid Afzal Sahi.
In PP-115, the ruling party’s candidate Muhammad Tahir Pervez is facing three independents and an Awami Justice Party Pakistan (AJPP) candidate. Pervez also contested the 2024 polls and remained runner-up to PTI-backed Shahid Javed.
In PP-116, the PML-N has nominated Ahmed Shaharyar, the son-in-law of Senator Rana Sanaullah. He is contesting against five independents and a Pakistan Nazriyati Party (PNP) candidate. In the 2024 polls, Shaharyar was runner-up with 52,517 votes.
In PP-203, the PML-N’s Muhammad Hanif Jutt, brother of Muhammad Tufail Jutt, is contesting against independent candidate Falak Sher Dogar.
In PP-269 of Muzaffargarh, Mian Alamdar Qureshi is contesting as the PPP’s candidate.
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