ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) defeated, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s PTI in PK-63 Nowshera and PP-51 Wazirabad by-elections, according to unofficial results.
Polling for four vacant national and provincial assembly seats in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Nowshera and Kurram ended Friday evening. The counting of votes is underway in Sialkot, Gujranwala and Kurram.
Strict security arrangements were made as area residents came to polling stations to vote for their representatives.
Different incidents of violence and chaos were reported. A police officer stationed at a polling station in Gujranwala’s Wazirabad was arrested for rigging. On the other hand, the electoral body rejected PML-N’s Maryam Aurangzeb’s request to extend the voting time.
A fight broke out between PTI and PML-N workers near the Sohdra Veterinary Hospital in Gujranwala’s Wazirabad. Punches and kicks were exchanged between the groups. Following the commotion, the gate of the polling station in the area was closed.
A number of PML-N supporters forcefully entered the polling station in Daska. They reportedly abused police officers when they tried to stop them.
At least two people were killed and seven others sustained injuries in a clash during polling in Daska.
The deceased were political workers, according to the police. The area plunged into chaos and several incidents of violence were reported, with armed men roaming the streets on motorbikes.
Here are the constituencies where by-elections were held.
Sialkot’s NA-75 seat fell vacant after PML-N MNA Iftikharul Hassan Shah died of a heart attack in August 2020. He was also a member of the standing committees on Interior and Narcotics Control and National Food Security and Research.
Shah was appointed MNA from the area thrice. He won the seat after securing 40,042 votes during the 2018 General Election.
This time a tough competition is expected between the PTI and PML-N. PML-N has given its ticket to Syeda Nosheen, while Ali Asjad is contesting on PTI’s ticket.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, there are 453,104 registered voters in the constituency. At least 360 polling stations have been set up. Twenty-five polling stations have been declared “sensitive”. Rangers personnel and 2,100 police officers have been stationed at polling stations across the city.
The PML-N has won the PP-51 Wazirabad by-election, ccording to unofficial results.
PML-N’s Begum Talat Shaukat bagged 53,903 votes, while PTI’s Chaudhry Yousuf stood runner-up with 48,484 votes.
Wazirabad’s PP-51 fell vacant after PML-N MPA Shaukat Manzoor Cheema passed away on June 3, 2020. During the 2018 elections, he won the seat with 59,267 votes.
The electoral body has set up 162 polling stations and 423 polling booths for the constituency’s 253,949 registered voters.
PML-N’s Ikhtiyar Wali won the by-election by securing 21,122 votes. He was followed by PTI’s Mian Umar Kakakhel, who bagged 17,023 votes.
The seat fell vacant after the death of former KP minister Mian Jamsheduddin Kakakhel. The PTI gave the ticket to his son Mian Umar Kakakhel.
Nowshera is the home city of Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and a stronghold of the ruling PTI.
At least 102 polling stations were set up in the constituency, out of which 35 were declared most sensitive and 39 sensitive.
The main contest will be between PTI’s Fakharuzzaman Bangash, JUI-F’s Jamil Khan and independent candidate Haji Syed Jamal.
The seat fell vacant after the death of JUI-F MNA Munir Khan Orakzai.
At least 180,931 voters will cast their votes at 134 polling stations.
Read more: NA-75 by-election: Two dead as PTI, PML-N workers clash
