Three PML-N candidates won three out of six national assembly seats and also won two provincial assembly seats as the ruling party is leading in all national assembly and six provincial assembly seats, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel.
Amid tight security arrangements, counting of votes was underway on Sunday after the day-long polling for by-elections on six National Assembly and seven Punjab Assembly seats concluded.
Most seats had become vacant after the disqualification of PTI lawmakers due to their convictions for their involvement in the May 9, 2023, violent riots.
National Assembly Seats Results:
PML-N's Hafiz Noman wins in NA 129 Lahore
PML-N's Hafiz Mian Muhammad Noman won the NA-129 by-election. Hafiz Mian Muhammad Noman got 63,441 votes.
PTI-backed candidate Arsalan Ahmed came second with 29,099 votes.
Independent candidate Bajash Khan Niazi came third with 6,264 votes. Results of all 334 polling stations have been announced. Turnout in the constituency was 18.67 percent.
PML-N Tufail Jatt wins in NA 143 Sahiwal
According to the first unofficial complete results, PML-N's candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Tufail Jatt wins from Chichawatni NA-143 with 136313 votes. Independent candidate Zarar Akbar came in second with 13120 votes. The voting turnout rate was around 24 percent.
PML-N's Mehmood Qadir Khan Leghari wins in NA 185 DG Khan
According to the unofficial and unconfirmed results of all 226 polling stations in NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan-2, PML-N's Mehmood Qadir Khan Leghari won with 82417 votes. PPP's Dost Muhammad Khosa finished in second place with 49262 votes.
NA 18 Haripur
According to the unofficial results of 492 Polling Stations, PML-N's Babar Nawaz leads with 137256 votes while PTI-backed candidate Shehrnaz Omar Ayub is in second position with 99031 votes.
NA 96 Faisalabad 2
According to unofficial results from 291 polling stations, PML-N's Bilal Badar Chaudhry is leading with 77503 votes while
Independent candidate Nawab Sher Wasir is second with 35320 votes.
NA 104 Faisalabad
According to unofficial results of 258 polling stations, PML-N candidate Raja Danial leads with 34970 votes. Independent candidate Rana Adnan Javed comes second with 12230 votes.
Punjab Assembly Seats Results:
PP 73 Sargodha
Out of a total of 163 Polling Stations, according to the results of 89 Polling Stations, PML-N Sultan Ranjha leads with 28704 votes, while an Independent candidate Haris Ranjha is in second place with 4091 votes.
PP 87 Mianwali
According to unofficial results from 96 polling stations of PP-87 constituency, PML-N candidate Ali Haider Noor Khan leading with 44944 votes, while Independent candidate Ayaz Khan Niazi got 2622 votes. JUP candidate Khalid Masood got 611 votes.
PP 98 Faisalabad
According to unofficial results of 104 polling stations in PP 98, PML-N candidate Azad Ali Tabassum leads with 29227 votes while independent candidate Ajmal Cheema got 20472 votes.
PML-N candidate Mian Tahir Jamil wins in PP 115 Faisalabad
According to unofficial complete results of all polling stations in PP 115, PML-N candidate Mian Tahir Jamil won with 49046 votes, and an independent candidate Malik Muhammad Asghar got 1898 votes.
PP-116 Faisalabad
According to unofficial results from 168 polling stations, Rana Ahmed Shehryar leads with 44417 votes while Asghar Ali Qaiser comes second with 10557 votes.
PML-N's Ch Hanif Jatt wins PP-203 (Sahiwal)
PML-N's Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jatt won the seat by getting 46820 votes while Independent candidate Falak Sher Dogar came in second by getting 10975 votes. Voting turnout was around 23 percent
PP 269 Muzaffargarh
According to unofficial results from 110 polling stations, Pakistan People's Party candidate Mian Alamdar Abbas Qureshi leads with 42976 votes.
Independent candidate Iqbal Pitafi is in second place with 30072 votes while Abdul Hai Dasti is in third place with 7070 votes.
Elections held peacefully
The counting of votes started as polling time for by-elections in 6 National Assembly and 7 Punjab Assembly constituencies concluded in a smooth and peaceful manner from 8 am to 5 pm.
The election process was closely monitored from the control room. CCTV cameras have also been installed at sensitive polling stations.
The National Assembly seats where polling held included NA-18 Haripur, NA-96 Faisalabad, NA-104 Faisalabad, NA-129 Lahore, NA-143 Sahiwal and NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan. The Punjab Assembly constituencies in contention are PP-73 Sargodha, PP-87 Mianwali, PP-98 Faisalabad, PP-115 Faisalabad, PP-116 Faisalabad, PP-203 Sahiwal and PP-269 Muzaffargarh.
In NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan, where PPP candidate Dost Muhammad Khosa faces PML-N’s Mehmood Qadir Khan Laghari, four polling stations have been declared extremely sensitive and 53 sensitive, while 169 fall into the normal category.
Around 3,000 police personnel have been deployed at 226 polling stations, supported by Elite Force units, ladies police and reserve contingents.
Pakistan Army and Punjab Rangers troops will serve as part of the Quick Response Force. In PP-269 Muzaffargarh, more than 1,700 police personnel are on duty.
Faisalabad is witnessing a significant electoral contest, with two National Assembly and three provincial seats up for grabs. More than 1.9 million registered voters in the city will choose between PTI-backed independents and PML-N candidates in all constituencies. In PP-98, PML-N candidate Azad Ali Tabassum faces a strong challenge from former provincial minister Ajmal Cheema, who commands considerable Jat clan support.
In Jaranwala, Bilal Badar Chaudhry, the brother of Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, is competing against seasoned politician Nawab Sher Wasair, who is expected to mount a stiff challenge due to his longstanding local influence.
PML-N is considered comparatively stronger in Faisalabad’s urban constituencies, but tough contests persist. Raja Danial Ahmad, son of former opposition leader Raja Riaz, faces an uphill battle against independent candidate Rana Adnan Javed.
Meanwhile, former MPA Malik Asghar Ali Qaiser poses a significant challenge to the son-in-law of federal minister Rana Sanaullah. Another PML-N hopeful, Mian Tahir Jameel, is contesting against former party member Malik Muhammad Asghar.
In NA-18 Haripur, a close contest is expected between PTI-backed independent Sheher Naz Umar Ayub Khan and PML-N candidate Babar Nawaz Khan.
In NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan, PPP’s Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa is running against PML-N’s Mehmood Qadir Laghari, although PTI has boycotted the election in the constituency.
Lahore’s NA-129 seat, which fell vacant after the death of former Punjab governor and PTI stalwart Mian Muhammad Azhar, is witnessing a contest between his grandson Chaudhry Arsalan and PML-N candidate Hafiz Mian Muhammad Noman.
Another PTI candidate, Bajash Ahmad Niazi, is also in the race, raising concerns that the division of PTI votes could benefit the PML-N.
More than 20,000 policemen are deputed for security at the polling stations in Punjab.
According to officials announcement, surveillance systems at sensitive polling stations have already been installed.
According to Punjab Police, personnel from the Elite Force, Police Response Unit (PRU), and Dolphin Force will be patrolling round-the-clock during the by-elections.
Officials said the enhanced deployment aimed at preventing any untoward incidents and ensure a peaceful voting process across national and provincial constituencies.
Authorities have ranked 408 polling stations as “highly sensitive”, prompting heightened security measures. An additional 1,032 polling stations have been labelled “sensitive,” where police presence and surveillance will be significantly increased.
Police confirmed that the installation of CCTV cameras at all sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations has been completed. The entire election process will be monitored in real time from the Safe City Headquarters, ensuring quick response to any threat or violation.
Officials warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone violating Section 144 or the Election Commission’s code of conduct, emphasizing that security protocols will be implemented without compromise.
Reporters: Shahzad Ahmad, Malik Shahid Tabassum, Abdur Rehman, Iqbal Sadiq, Rao Dilshad and Amir Dogar