ISLAMABAD: The vote counting began on Sunday after polling for by-elections on 21 National Assembly and provincial assemblies’ seats concluded in different electoral constituencies across Pakistan. As polling ended at 5 pm, the process of vote counting is underway in various electoral constituencies.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process, cellular and internet services were temporarily suspended in specific districts of Punjab and Balochistan. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) clarified that this decision was made to safeguard the integrity and security of the voting process.
The by-elections were held in various constituencies, including five NA seats, 12 Punjab Assembly seats, two each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan Assemblies, and one in the Sindh Assembly. Notably, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured one NA seat, NA-207 Nawabshah, uncontested, with Aseefa Bhutto Zardari elected as the representative.
In Punjab, the by-polls witnessed intense competition across various constituencies, including PP-32 (Gujrat), PP-36 (Wazirabad), PP-54 (Narowal), PP-93 (Bhakkar), PP-139 (Sheikhupura), PP-147, PP-149, PP-158, PP-164 (Lahore), PP-266 (Rahim Yar Khan), and PP-290 (Dera Ghazi Khan).
Tough contests are expected in constituencies vacated by prominent political figures, such as Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz (NA-119 Lahore), PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz (PP-147 Lahore), and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party’s (IPP) Abdul Aleem Khan (PP-149 Lahore). Notably, NA-132 witnessed a challenging competition between candidates from various political parties, including the PML-N, SIC, and TLP.
In Sindh, voting took place on NA-196 (Qamber Shadadkot), vacated by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, while in KP, polling occurred on NA-44 (Dera Ismail Khan) seat, previously held by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. By-polls also held in NA-8 (Bajaur), where the election was suspended earlier due to the tragic murder of candidate Rehan Zeb Khan.
