By-polls: PTI recaptures 6 NA seats and adds 2 more in Punjab, according to unofficial results

[MenInG]

The polling process for by-elections in 11 constituencies in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa began early on Sunday morning.

According to a report by Radio Pakistan, polling will continue uninterrupted till 5pm.

The by-elections are being held for three seats each of the national and provincial assembly in Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib and Multan in Punjab; three NA seats in Charsadda, Peshawar and Mardan in KP; and two NA seats in Sindh’s Korangi and Malir.


A man casts his vote during the by-election in Karachi on Sunday.—DawnNewsTV
It is unprecedented in the country’s political history that one candidate, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, is running for as many as seven NA seats out of eight up for grabs.

A total of 101 candidates from different political parties and independents are taking part in the vote: 52 in Punjab, 33 in Sindh and 16 in KP. Around 4.472 million voters are registered in these constituencies.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said earlier that a sufficient num*ber of police and Rangers personnel would be deployed for maintaining law and order on the polling day.

A central control room has been established at the ECP head office in Islamabad which will monitor the voting process across the country.

In Punjab, 1,434 polling stations have been established, 979 in KP and 340 in Karachi. The election campa*ign concluded at midnight on Friday.

Police personnel stand guard outside a polling station in Faisalabad on Sunday.—DawnNewsTV
Imran Khan has been vigorously running the campaign of his party, while senior PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz, who had led all previous by-election campaigns, is in London to see her father Nawaz Sharif.

The NA seats were vacated after speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had, on July 28, accepted the resignations of PTI MNAs — nine on general seats and two on reserved seats for women — sparking controversy over the piecemeal acceptance of resignations.

The lawmakers whose resignations were ratified were part of more than 120 who had resigned from their NA seats en masse on April 11, two days after former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from the top office in a no-confidence vote.

The by-elections were originally scheduled to be held during September but were postponed by the ECP which cited the unavailability of security personnel in the wake of catastrophic floods across the country.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Everyone must turnout to vote in all the constituencies where bye elections are being held today. This is a referendum for Haqiqi Azadi from the cabal of crooks. We are contesting against all of PDM, the Election Commission and "namaloom afraad".</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1581492506599911424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[daytrader]

Will Imran be able to win seven NA seats?
By-polls will also be held in three Punjab Assembly constituencies

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed preparations for holding by-election in 11 constituencies on Sunday (today). It is to be seen if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will be able to defend his eight National Assembly seats or not.

By-polls will also be held in three Punjab Assembly constituencies.

The stage is set for 2.46 million male and 2.028 million female registered voters to elect eight National Assembly and three provincial assembly lawmakers of their choice.

For the first time in the country’s electoral history, one candidate i.e. PTI Chairman Imran Khan is running from seven out of eight NA constituencies, while the other PTI candidate is the daughter of party vice-chairman, Meharbano Qureshi, fielded from Multan, NA-157. There are a total of 100 candidates in the electoral arena of these constituencies.

Other constituencies where polling will be held are: NA-22 Mardan III, NA-24 Charsadda II, NA-31 Peshawar V, NA-108 Faisalabad VIII, NA-118 Nankana Sahib II, NA-237 Malir II, NA-239 Korangi Karachi I, PP-241 Bahawalnagar-V, PP-209 Khanewal-VII, and PP-139 Sheikhupura-V.

It is quite clear even if Imran wins from all the seven constituencies, he has no intention of returning to the National Assembly, as his consistent demand has been to hold general election as early as possible. Therefore, it is to be seen how many voters will come out to be part of the poll process.

However, despite his clear intentions, the PTI chairman has been regularly holding public meetings in the run-up to the by-poll during the last several weeks.

In a related development, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has written letters to the provinces for security of the by-election in three constituencies of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab and eight constituencies of the National Assembly.

Letters have been written to chief secretaries and the IGP of Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh for providing a peaceful environment to voters, polling staff, candidates and political parties and to provide foolproof security to the provincial administration.

In view of the ongoing political polarisation and flood disasters in the country, the administration and security agencies need to be more vigilant and alert to ensure transparent and impartial conduct of elections, he added.

Letters have been written to Punjab Chief Secretary Abdullah Sumbal, IGP Punjab Faisal Shahkar, Chief Secretary Sindh Sohail Rajpoot, IGP Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, Chief Secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Shahzad Bangash and IGP Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Moazzam Jah.

According to the ECP, the chief election commissioner is supervising the distribution of polling material and other arrangements. Services of the police, Rangers and the army will be available for security.

The votes of pregnant women, transgenders, disabled people and elderly voters would be cast on priority basis. In all, there are 2,937 polling stations in the 11 constituencies, of which 806 are for males, 713 for females and 1,416 joint polling stations. The total number of polling booths in the polling stations is 9,869, out of which 5,294 are for males and 4,575 for females.

Of these, 747 have been declared as highly sensitive and 694 sensitive polling stations. For the convenience of public, 8300 message service details of votes and polling stations have been updated. The general public, political parties and other stakeholders can contact the control rooms of the Election Commission, offices of provincial election commissioners and returning officers in case of complaints. “No one will be allowed to violate the law. Immediate action will be taken against those who create ruckus and interfere in the polling,” the CEC said in a statement issued here. Any complaints could be registered in central control room, Islamabad, at 051-9210837 and 051-9204402; 051-9210838. Complaints can also be communicated through fax number 051-9204404 and email: ddmonitoringisb@gmail.com

Provincial control room, Lahore can be contacted at landline telephone 042-99212620; 042-99212209 and email pecpunjabcontrolroom@gmail.com The Sindh control room can be contacted at 021-99205338; Mobile no 0334-3895812; 0331-3584450 and 0300-9374192; email pecelection123@gmail.com Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa control room, Peshawar contact no is 091-9222475; 091-9211034; email: electionbranchkpk@gmail.com

The News PK

 

[MenInG]

The polling process for by-elections in 11 constituencies in three provinces continued without major incident on Sunday, aside from a clash between PTI and ANP workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and PTI claims of a worker being “attacked” by “PPP goons”.

Key developments

Workers of PTI and ANP clash in Peshawar polling station; one injured, two taken into custody
Rana Sanaullah issued notice by Punjab election commission for code of conduct violation in Faisalabad
PTI claims PPP “goons” attacked MPA Bilal Ghaffar in Karachi.
Turnout low in Karachi
According to a report by Radio Pakistan, polling will continue uninterrupted till 5pm.

The by-elections are being held for three seats each of the national and provincial assembly in Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib and Multan in Punjab; three NA seats in Charsadda, Peshawar and Mardan in KP; and two NA seats in Sindh’s Korangi and Malir.


It is unprecedented in the country’s political history that one candidate, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, is running for as many as seven NA seats out of eight up for grabs.

As polling commenced, Imran tweeted that he was contesting against “all of PDM, the Election Commission and ‘namaloom afraad’”.

A total of 101 candidates from different political parties and independents are taking part in the vote: 52 in Punjab, 33 in Sindh and 16 in KP. Around 4.472 million voters are registered in these constituencies.

The ECP said in a statement that it has passed “strict instructions” to provincial election commissioners to ensure the immediate arrest of anyone that tries to influence the polling process.

And if any government official is found involved in election rigging, not only should that person be arrested immediately and legal procedures be followed, but that matter should be referred to the ECP for disciplinary action, it added.

Read: Imran vs the ruling coalition: An overview of today’s by-poll battlegrounds

In a later statement, the ECP said its control rooms are “operating 24 hours a day” at the Islamabad Secretariat, and on the provincial and district levels.

The control room can be contacted at 051-8848888 and 051-9204403 regarding any election-related complaint.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Meanwhile, television broadcast footage of ANP and PTI workers arguing and furiously chanting inside the Shaheed Hasanain School polling station in Peshawar.

Because of the hubbub, voting was paused for some time, and there were reports of a worker receiving a minor injury. ANP workers claimed that their opponents were trying to influence the election.

Dawn.com’s correspondent at the scene confirmed that police had reached the polling station and took two workers into custody, following which voting resumed. It is not clear which party the workers belonged to at this point.

City Peshawar SP Abdul Salam Khalid told Dawn.com that the situation was “under control”, adding that the police deployed more personnel than was required to ensure security.

“It’s an election day and minor bickering will occur, but the issues have been resolved. We also involved local elders who assured police of their role in ensuring free and fair elections,” he said.

In Peshawar’s NA-31 constituency, Returning Officer Saeed Ahmed said agents of political parties are at every booth and the counting process will also be done under their supervision.

“The election staff is bound to give the copy of Form 45 to the polling agent and Election Commission,” Ahmed added.

Punjab
The provincial election commission’s spokesperson Huda Ali Gohar quoted the returning officer as saying an altercation took place between political workers outside a polling station in PP-209 Khanewal. “Security personnel controlled the situation timely,” Gohar said, adding that voting continued without interruption.

Gohar did not specify which parties were involved in the altercation.

In a separate statement, Gohar said the district monitoring officer for Faisalabad’s NA-108 constituency issued a notice to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for violating the code of conduct.

“Rana Sanaullah participated in the door-to-door election campaign and corner meeting of candidate Abed Sher Ali,” the statement said. Ali is the PML-N’s candidate for the NA-108 Faisalabad-VIII constituency.

Sanaullah has been summoned for an explanation on October 16 by 10am.

The election official wrote to the Faisalabad deputy commissioner and City Police ordering them to “immediately evict” public officeholders from the constituency.

“No public office holder is allowed to enter the constituency till the completion of the election process,” the district returning officer was quoted by Gohar as saying, warning disciplinary action for any government employee if they help office holders enter the boundaries of the constituency during polling.

Sindh
Polling in Karachi was marred by claims of violence, as PTI leader Ali Zaidi posted a video showing the party’s Karachi president, MPA Bilal Ghaffar, with a bandaged head, alleging he was pushed and attacked by “10-15 people” with “bricks”.

He also alleged the police present did not respond when he called for help. He also named the PPP MPA Saleem Baloch as “the first one who attacked me”.

Earlier, turnout was reported to be low on a balmy Sunday.

A heavy contingent of Rangers was patrolling the various areas of the two NA constituencies of Karachi — NA-237 and NA-239, the Sindh Rangers said in a statement, adding that mobile patrols and motorcycle squads were deployed.

Women wait for their turn outside a polling station in Sindh’s Korangi area on Sunday.—DawnNewsTV
Model Colony, Saudabad, Khokhrapar, Malir Halt, Bakra Padi, Malir 15, Quaidabad and Manzil Pump, were the areas that the Rangers were patrolling, according to the statement.

The Karachi Police, meanwhile, said more than 7,000 personnel are performing security duties to ensure the polling process is peaceful.

“Rapid response teams of the police and Rangers have been deployed at sensitive polling stations to deal with any untoward incident,” the statement added, urging the public to keep an eye on their surroundings and immediately report any suspicious or unusual activity to the police on helpline 15.

Politicians urge people to get out and vote
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on people to “fully participate” in the by-elections. In a tweet, he urged people to make a “well-considered decision” because the “development and prosperity of you and your country depends on it”.

PTI chairman Imran Khan, meanwhile, said “everyone must turn out to vote in all the constituencies where by-elections are being held today and characterised the polls as referendum. “This is a referendum for Haqiqi Azadi from the cabal of crooks. We are contesting against all of PDM, the Election Commission and ‘namaloom afraad’.”

Ahead of the vote, PTI candidate for Multan’s NA-157 constituency, Mehar Bano Qureshi, urged people to cast their vote with “responsibility” and also protect their ballot.

In a video message, Qureshi asked voters in NA-157 to inform a relevant polling agent if they encounter anything suspicious. “You have to make our kaptaan win.”

PTI leader and former governor Sindh Imran Ismail urged voters to come out in large numbers and vote for Imran Khan.

In a tweet, he said it was a historic day that will determine the future of the nation.

PPP leader Sherry Rehman said Imran was “humiliating” his party leaders and voters by contesting from all NA seats himself in the by-polls.

“People should vote only for a candidate who can represent them in parliament and be their voice,” she tweeted.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said earlier that a sufficient num*ber of police and Rangers personnel would be deployed for maintaining law and order on the polling day.

A central control room has been established at the ECP head office in Islamabad which will monitor the voting process across the country.

In Punjab, 1,434 polling stations have been established, 979 in KP and 340 in Karachi. The election campa*ign concluded at midnight on Friday.

Police personnel stand guard outside a polling station in Faisalabad on Sunday.—DawnNewsTV
Imran Khan has been vigorously running the campaign of his party, while senior PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz, who had led all previous by-election campaigns for her party, is presently in London to see her father Nawaz Sharif.

The NA seats were vacated after speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had, on July 28, accepted the resignations of PTI MNAs — nine on general seats and two on reserved seats for women — sparking controversy over the piecemeal acceptance of resignations.

A man casts his vote during the by-election in Karachi on Sunday.—DawnNewsTV
The lawmakers whose resignations were ratified were part of more than 120 who had resigned from their NA seats en masse on April 11, two days after former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from the top office in a no-confidence vote.

The by-elections were originally scheduled to be held during September but were postponed by the ECP which cited the unavailability of security personnel in the wake of catastrophic floods across the country.

DAWN

 

[Hextro]

This should be a landslide in favor of PTI. The only way PDM can win more than 2 seats is via rigging.

 

[Bewal Express]

IK will win all with ease if there is no rigging. But the mafia can't afford an IK win.

 

[saeedhk]

IK leading on almost all seats!

 

[Hextro]

As expected the rigging has begun. Disgraceful.

 

[MenInG]

Unofficial results have started pouring in from various constituencies after polling for the crucial by-elections on eight National Assembly and three Punjab Assembly seats ended amid strict security measures on Sunday (today).

The polling began at 8:00 am and culminated at 5:00 pm.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that the overall polling process remained peaceful, and the commission’s central control room received 15 complaints of code violations.

 

[MenInG]

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its party chief former prime minister Imran Khan is leading in by-elections on six out of eight seats of the National Assembly (NA) and two out of three Punjab Assembly seats in Sunday’s crucial by-elections in three provinces of the country, according to initial results.

PML-N and PPP'’s candidates are leading in Sheikhupura and Karachi's Malir constituencies as an exception, according to unofficial and inconclusive results.
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The initial results started to trickle in after polling for today’s by-polls concluded at 5pm.

Unofficial and unconfirmed results

NA-22 (Mardan)

PTI chief Imran Khan has defeated JUI-F’s candidate Maulana Qasim by a margin of 8,500 votes. Imran secured 76,681 votes while the rival candidate came second with 68,181 votes.


PP- 241 (Bahawalnagar)

According to the unofficial results of all polling stations, PTI candidate Malik Muzaffar Khan won the by-poll by securing 55,005 votes while PML-N’s Amanullah Sattar Bajwa came second with 48,650 votes.

PP-209 (Khanewal)

PTI candidate Faisal Khan Niazi has won the by-election by securing 71,586 votes against PML-N’s Chaudhry Ziaur Rehman who bagged 57,864 votes.

NA-31 (Peshawar)

According to unofficial results of all 265 polling stations, PTI chief Imran Khan has secured victory by securing 57,824 votes against ANP’s Ghulam Ahmed Bilour who came second with 32,253 votes.

Reacting to the results, Bilour refused to accept the defeat and announced to challenge the result in court.

He also accused the PTI-led K-P government of using its influence to win the by-poll.

NA-57 (Multan)

PPP’s Ali Musa Gillani has defeated PTI’s Meher Bano Qureshi with a huge margin of almost 20,000 votes. Ali has secured 79,743 votes while Meher Bano has bagged 59,993 votes.


COUNTING UNDERWAY

NA-24 (Charsadda)

According to the results of 120 polling stations, Imran is leading with 23,873 votes against ANP Aimal Wali Khan who has bagged 21,316 votes,

NA-108 (Faisalabad)

According to the results of 146 polling stations, Imran is leading with 37,560 votes while PML-N’s Abid Sher Ali secured 26,803 votes.

NA-118 (Nankana Sahib)

According to the results of 319 polling stations, Imran has secured 22,013 against his rival PML-N’s Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal who is trailing behind with 18,968 votes.

NA-237 (Karachi Malir)

According to the results of 85 polling stations, PPP’s Hakim Baloch is leading with 10,059 votes against the PTI chairman who has received 9,502 votes.

NA-239 (Karachi Korangi)

According to the results of 33 polling stations, Imran has secured 4,440 votes while MQM-Pakistan’s Syed Nayyer Raza got 913 votes.

PP-139 (Sheikhupura)

According to the results of 97 polling stations, PML-N's Chaudhry Iftikhar is leading with 23,765 votes and PTI's Muhammad Abu Bakr has bagged 21,881 votes.

Clashes in Karachi and Peshawar

Earlier, sporadic clashes were reported between the workers of PTI and Awami National Party (ANP) in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), and PTI and PPP in Karachi, Sindh.

A clash between workers of the PPP and PTI took place in Karachi’s Malir area. According to reports, PTI MPA Bilal Ghaffar sustained injuries.

“People from the PPP camp pushed me to the ground and 10-15 people threw bricks at me,” said Ghaffar. He accused PPP MPA Saleem Baloch of the attack and claimed that the police did not come to his rescue.

Read Re-polling begins in 13 K-P districts for LG elections

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister of Labour and Human Resources Saeed Ghani said, “Ghaffar, fearing the confirmed defeat of Imran Niazi in NA-237, tried to spoil the situation.”

He added that Baloch reached the polling station after receiving information about Ghaffar's hooliganism. The minister further requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) take immediate notice of the “bullying”.

“The Imran group has already started looking for excuses for its certain defeat. It is afraid that after the crushing defeat in Karachi, Imran Niazi will abandon his incompetent group,” Ghani furthered.

An altercation between ANP and PTI members occurred in Preshwar’s Shaheed Hasanain School, resulting in a latter party's worker getting injured. Police personnel present at the spot, however, defused the situation immediately and detained both workers.

In another incident, a scuffle broke out between the gunmen of the PTI mayor and the police outside the Municipal Inter College in the provincial capital.

A policeman was injured during the altercation. The police arrested the gunman and transferred him to Faqirabad Police Station.

According to the first information report (FIR) filed, the gunmen misbehaved with government officials. The FIR also includes provisions for the exhibition of arms.

Another clash between ANP and PTI polling agents at Peshawar's number one polling station was reported, video of which is available with the Express Tribune. The police reached the spot and asked both agents to leave the premises.

The by-elections that began at 8 am today were held on two seats in K-P, four seats in Punjab and two seats in Sindh, which fell vacant after the resignation of the PTI members from the NA.

In all three provinces, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the government's coalition parties had a tough fight with the PTI.

PTI chief Imran Khan himself was a candidate in seven seats, while Mehrbano, the daughter of PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was contesting the election on a PTI ticket on one seat.

Maulana Qasim was contesting the election on behalf of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) in the constituency NA-22 Mardan of K-P, while Awami National Party's (ANP) provincial president Aimal Khan Wali was given the ticket from Charsadda’s NA-24 constituency.

All the coalition parties in the government have announced their support of these two candidates.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) gave tickets to Abid Sher Ali and Dr Shezra Mansab Ali from the three seats of NA-108 Faisalabad and Nankana Sahib NA-118 constituency. These candidates also have the support of the PDM.

Former premier Imran Khan was the competitor of the candidates in these two constituencies too.

In Multan, Mehrbano Qureshi will contest from the PTI ticket on NA-157 seat, against Ali Musa Gilani, son of PPP leader Yousuf Raza Gilani.

In Karachi, the PDM nominated Abdul Hakeem Baloch and Nayyar Raza of MQM-P against Imran Khan in constituencies NA-237 and 239.

A total of 11 candidates were contesting in constituency NA-237, while a total of 22 candidates were contesting in constituency NA-239.

Read more: ECP to consult on security situation as govt requests delaying by-polls for 90 days

Apart from eight constituencies of the NA, by-elections were also held in three constituencies of the Punjab Assembly, PP-139 Sheikhupura, PP-209 Khanewal and PP-241 Bahawalnagar.

Leaders urge people to vote

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged people to “fully participate” in by-polls and said that voters should make a “thoughtful decision because the development and prosperity of you and your country depends on it.”

“People participate fully in polling for by-elections in 8 constituencies of [the] National Assembly and 3 constituencies of Punjab Assembly. This is a constitutional and legal process and only the people have the right to choose who they want,” he added.

PTI chief Imran Khan also asked people to come out and vote.

“Everyone must turn out to vote in all the constituencies where by-elections are being held today. This is a referendum for Haqiqi Azadi from the cabal of crooks. We are contesting against all of PDM, the Election Commission and "namaloom afraad”,” the PTI chief said.

Sikh community cast votes

The youth and elders of the Sikh community reached the NA-32 polling station in Peshawar to cast their votes.

Voters of the Sikh community cast their votes at the city’s Asia Park Polling Station.

More than four thousand Sikhs exercised their right to vote in Peshawar.

Security arrangements

To ensure law and order in the election, foolproof security arrangements were made while the electoral materials were shifted to the polling station under the supervision of returning officers.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declared all the polling stations of both NA-237 and NA-239 of Karachi as sensitive or highly sensitive.

Polling continued from 8 am to 5 pm without any break. The ECP issued a notification for the appointment of Rangers, Frontier Corps and the Pakistan Army.

Express Tribune

 

[Bewal Express]

Total and utter humiliation for the mafia. They have no support at all and now totally reliant on Bajwa. He will extract a heavy price from them.

 

[Waleed93]

It has been proved once again, that without any external involvement during elections, Imran will win by a landslide in most areas.

The kind of popularity he enjoys right now is the reason why the PDM jokers are so afraid of holding elections.

 

[Bewal Express]

The PPP involved in blatant rigging in Karachi but these thugs have form and this wasn't a surprise

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar has said that his party's chairman Imran Khan would not go back to the National Assembly after winning the latest by-elections.

Talking to journalists, Umar said: "Today's election was a referendum. Imran Khan will not return to the assembly after winning and he will also not take the oath."

The former federal minister said the party's chairman has directed all workers to observe "Youm-e-Tashakur".

After reclaiming multiple seats in the by-polls, the PTI secretary-general said that decision-makers should realise their mistake.

He asked: “Is there any ambiguity in the minds of the decision-makers?"

He expressed hope that the people in power would take a decision without putting the public in trouble.

Terming today’s by-polls as a “referendum”, the PTI leader said neither Imran Khan will return to the assembly nor will he take oath as an MNA.

“Our only demand is to give people the right to vote,” said Umar.

The public expressed its anger for what they suffered during the past six months, he added. The PTI leader said that people have rejected the "incompetent mafia" and the "market" set up in Sindh House.

The people have understood that Pakistan has reached an important turning point, Umar said, adding that the people have two options — join the war of "foreign countries" or take decisions in line with national interests.

TheNews

 

[MenInG]

Former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan won five out of seven National Assembly seats, including NA-31 Peshawar, NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-118 Nankana Sahib -II, and NA-108 Faisalabad, as per unofficial results after the polling completed.

Results continue to pour in for by-elections on eight National Assembly seats amid reports of sporadic violence and clashes across the country.

PTI is ahead of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on the last seat of Karachi-Korangi, as per unofficial results.

Khan bagged 57,824 to defeat Awami National Party (ANP) stalwart Ghulam Ahmed Bilour in Peshawar, according to unofficial results, with Bilour securing 32,253 votes — allowing the PTI chairman to win by a huge margin of more than 25,000 votes.

PTI, as per latest unofficial results, was in the lead on two more NA seats of Karachi-Lorangi, Nankana Sahib, while PPP led in Karachi's Malir.

On the eighth seat that Khan wasn't contesting, PDM candidate Musa Ali Gillani emerged victorious, according to unofficial results.

Musa — the son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani — bagged 79,743 votes and took a lead of 19,750 as Meher — the daughter of PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi — was able to secure 59,993 votes, according to unofficial results.

 

[Bewal Express]

The mafia desperately hanging on against the will of the public. They will get wiped out and they know it and they are just desperate to destroy our economy so that when IK does come back they can play their silly game with the backing off the mafia and the establishment of blaming Kaptaan. They left the country bankrupt in 2018 and they will leave it either defaulting or on the verge of a default( which is where we are today).

 

[Browncaps]

Sindh
Polling in Karachi was marred by violence as PTI leader Ali Zaidi posted a video showing the party’s Karachi president, MPA Bilal Ghaffar, with a bandaged head. In the video, he alleged he was pushed and then set upon by “10-15 people”, who attacked him with “bricks” in the city’s Malir area by PPP workers.

He also alleged the police present there did not respond when he called for help. He also alleged PPP MPA Saleem Baloch was “the first one who attacked” him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I have just been informed that the attacker was PPP MPA Saleem Baloch & Salman Murad. <br><br>Retd Judge Rana Zaki Shamsi who is a member of <a href="https://twitter.com/PTIofficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PTIofficial</a> was with MPA <a href="https://twitter.com/BilalAGhaffar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BilalAGhaffar</a> and was also physically assaulted & attacked.<br><br>They fear defeat & are restoring to violence. <a href="https://t.co/dhab49gs82">https://t.co/dhab49gs82</a></p>— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/AliHZaidiPTI/status/1581560170873688064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Zaidi, too, alleged the attacker was “PPP MPA Saleem Baloch and Salman Murad”. He said retired judge Rana Zaki Shamsi, a member of PTI was with Ghaffar, and he was also physically assaulted & attacked. “They fear defeat & are restoring to violence,” he added.

PTI’s Imran Ismail condemned the incident said the PPP were attacking opponents as “they are fearing their defeat”.

PPP the party of terrorists who played a starring role in breaking Pakistan, supporting sectarianism, regionalism, money laundering, theft, corruption and nepotistic police appointments, murder and intimidation of political opponents, ghost schools and hospitals, looting and destruction of Sindh's resources, still showing their true colours and as usual resorting to violence because its not their auqat to win an election and all their live they have enslaved people. Lanaat on entire ppp and all their shameless thug and gunda supporters.

 

[Bewal Express]

Sindh
Polling in Karachi was marred by violence as PTI leader Ali Zaidi posted a video showing the party’s Karachi president, MPA Bilal Ghaffar, with a bandaged head. In the video, he alleged he was pushed and then set upon by “10-15 people”, who attacked him with “bricks” in the city’s Malir area by PPP workers.

He also alleged the police present there did not respond when he called for help. He also alleged PPP MPA Saleem Baloch was “the first one who attacked” him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I have just been informed that the attacker was PPP MPA Saleem Baloch & Salman Murad. <br><br>Retd Judge Rana Zaki Shamsi who is a member of <a href="https://twitter.com/PTIofficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PTIofficial</a> was with MPA <a href="https://twitter.com/BilalAGhaffar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BilalAGhaffar</a> and was also physically assaulted & attacked.<br><br>They fear defeat & are restoring to violence. <a href="https://t.co/dhab49gs82">https://t.co/dhab49gs82</a></p>— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/AliHZaidiPTI/status/1581560170873688064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Zaidi, too, alleged the attacker was “PPP MPA Saleem Baloch and Salman Murad”. He said retired judge Rana Zaki Shamsi, a member of PTI was with Ghaffar, and he was also physically assaulted & attacked. “They fear defeat & are restoring to violence,” he added.

PTI’s Imran Ismail condemned the incident said the PPP were attacking opponents as “they are fearing their defeat”.

PPP the party of terrorists who played a starring role in breaking Pakistan, supporting sectarianism, regionalism, money laundering, theft, corruption and nepotistic police appointments, murder and intimidation of political opponents, ghost schools and hospitals, looting and destruction of Sindh's resources, still showing their true colours and as usual resorting to violence because its not their auqat to win an election and all their live they have enslaved people. Lanaat on entire ppp and all their shameless thug and gunda supporters.

The PPP are thugs- they rule through fear because they have nothing to show their voters after decades of looting and thuggishness. These guys are lucky to be alive- Memon wasnt so lucky. As corrupt as BB was, would she have ever allowed he party to become so thuggish?

 

[KingKhanWC]

[MENTION=135038]Major[/MENTION] how many votes did PPP rig this time? Please consult Bilo

 

[Major]

[MENTION=135038]Major[/MENTION] how many votes did PPP rig this time? Please consult Bilo

pti lost a seat from which they held and resigned from..... but sure celebrate it as victory....... whatever feeds the narrative

 

[KingKhanWC]

pti lost a seat from which they held and resigned from..... but sure celebrate it as victory....... whatever feeds the narrative

So Bilo said no votes were rigged by PPP. They must have seen the light.

PTI is loved by the vast majority of Pakistanis, this is no secret anylonger.

 

[Major]

So Bilo said no votes were rigged by PPP. They must have seen the light.

PTI is loved by the vast majority of Pakistanis, this is no secret anylonger.

which is why they lost two seats which they held before right?

 

[KingKhanWC]

which is why they lost two seats which they held before right?

Dont listen to Bilo, many videos today showing their rigging. Lets be frank, only a fool or someone benefiting from PPP corruption would vote for them.

Once Imran returns, the PPP will obliterated into history.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

There is a proverb in Punjabi; "Jootyan pyon pyon ke ser te maarna" (T: To hit shoes in the head with wet shoes; utter humiliation).


Pathetic thieves. Pakistanis hate their rotten money stealing families.

 

[MenInG]

The PTI recaptured six of its eight National Assembly seats and grabbed another two in Punjab Assembly in by-polls held on Sunday, according to unconfirmed and unofficial results.

Despite claiming a lion’s share of the seats, the party also lost two of the NA seats — NA-157 Multan-IV and NA-237 Malir-II —that it had won in 2018. Its defeat on both the seats came at the hands of PPP.

The constituencies where the PTI has won were NA-22 Mardan, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-108 Faisalabad-VIII, NA-118 Nankana Sahib, NA-239-Korangi PP-209 Khanewal and PP-241 Bahawal*nagar.

The PML-N got just one of the dozen seats up for grabs, winning PP-139 Sheikhupura-V, which was its own seat.


Key developments

Unofficial and unconfirmed results show PTI won 6 NA and 2 PA seats; PPP clinched 2 NA seats while PML-N triumphed on just 1 PA seat
Imran says he’s contesting against PDM, ECP and “namaloom afraad”
ECP rejects Imran Khan’s claims as “baseless and misleading”
Workers of PTI and ANP clash in Peshawar polling station; one injured, two taken into custody
Rana Sanaullah issued notice by Punjab election commission for code of conduct violation in Faisalabad
PTI claims PPP “goons” attacked MPA Bilal Ghaffar in Karachi; police say it was a personal dispute
PPP’s Saeed Ghani says PTI losing and making excuses
PPP’s Sharjeel posts video and claims PTI worker threatening election official in Karachi
Three arrested in Sheikhupura for allegedly possessing weapons
The by-polls, held on eight National Assembly and three Punjab Assembly seats, saw a largely peaceful polling process, which was marred by reports of clashes between PTI and ANP workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI’s claims of its lawmaker being “attacked” in Karachi as well as allegation of rigging by a polling official.

While the PTI won the bulk of the sears, it did get beaten by PPP in NA-157 Multan, where Ali Musa Gilani, son of former prime minister Senator Yousuf Raza Gilani, triumphed over Meher Bano Qu*reshi, daughter of PTI leader and former foreign minister Shah Mah*mood Qureshi. PML-N, on the other hand, triumphed in just one constituency, PP-139 Sheikhupura, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results.

One more chance for decision makers to realise their mistake
PTI Secretary General Asad Umar said that the direction of the election results was “another chance for the decision makers to realise their mistake and take Pakistan towards a new election.”

As the midnight approached, Umar spoke to the media in Islamabad and said that it would be “better” if the decision makers pay attention to the nation’s will, following which “there would be no need for a long march”.

Regarding the PTI defeat on Multan seat, he said the party would analyse the reasons but also alleged that the PPP had “bought the loyalties in the constituency”.

As the NA-31 results started pouring in, PTI party workers at a sub-election camp in Peshawar began premature celebrations and allegedly opened aerial firing. A police team arrived at the scene and attempted to make arrests, leading to clashes with PTI workers.

ANP’s losing candidate in the constituency, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, refused to accept the results, accusing the provincial government of “injustice” against him and said he would approach the ECP and high court.

ECP takes notice of alleged rigging in NA-237
The provincial election commissioner took notice of alleged rigging at NA-237’s polling station 108. The incident came to light when a video, purportedly of Presiding Officer Mazhar Bhatti emerged where in he said that at around 2pm, some unidentified people barged into the polling station, snatched ballot papers and started stamping them.

Subsequently, the provincial election commissioner summoned a report from NA-237’s returning officer and district returning officer. He said that fake votes cast in the NA-237 by-poll would not be counted.

PTI leader Khurram Sher Zaman accused the PPP of being behind the alleged rigging.

Meanwhile, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon accused the PTI of “blatantly” violating the ECP code of conduct and causing hooliganism at various polling stations.

“These people tried to create chaos and threatened innocent voters in a bid to influence them. The polling staff were harassed with large processions of vehicles, but no one took notice of open violations of the ECP code of conduct,” Memon said.

The polling process started at 8am and culminated at 5pm. The media, as per the guidelines provided by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), was told to report on results only after 6pm.

The by-elections were held for three seats each of the national and provincial assembly in Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib and Multan in Punjab; three NA seats in Charsadda, Peshawar and Mardan in KP; and two NA seats in Sindh’s Korangi and Malir.

It is unprecedented in the country’s political history that one candidate, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, is running for as many as seven NA seats out of eight up for grabs.

As polling commenced, Imran tweeted that he was contesting against “all of PDM, the Election Commission and ‘namaloom afraad’”.

After braving broadsides from the PTI leadership throughout the day, the ECP, in a statement issued in the afternoon, said the statements of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Omar Ayub, Farrukh Habib and others are “completely baseless and misleading and have no relation to reality”.

“The ECP is determined to conduct free, fair and impartial elections, and so far, with the blessings of God, it is what is happening.

“If anyone tries to influence the election process, he will be dealt with strictly according to the Constitution and law.”

A total of 101 candidates from different political parties and independents are taking part in the vote: 52 in Punjab, 33 in Sindh and 16 in KP. Around 4.472 million voters are registered in these constituencies.

The ECP said in a statement that it has passed “strict instructions” to provincial election commissioners to ensure the immediate arrest of anyone that tries to influence the polling process.

And if any government official was found involved in election rigging, not only should that person be arrested immediately and legal procedures be followed, but that matter should be referred to the ECP for disciplinary action, it added.

Read: Imran vs the ruling coalition: An overview of today’s by-poll battlegrounds

In a later statement, the ECP said its control rooms are “operating 24 hours a day” at the Islamabad Secretariat, and on the provincial and district levels.

The control room can be contacted at 051-8848888 and 051-9204403 regarding any election-related complaint.

Sindh
Polling in Karachi was marred by violence as PTI leader Ali Zaidi posted a video showing the party’s Karachi president, MPA Bilal Ghaffar, with a bandaged head. In the video, he alleged he was pushed and then set upon by “10-15 people”, who attacked him with “bricks” in the city’s Malir area by PPP workers.

He also alleged the police present there did not respond when he called for help. He also alleged PPP MPA Saleem Baloch was “the first one who attacked” him.

Zaidi, too, alleged the attacker was “PPP MPA Saleem Baloch and Salman Murad”. He said retired judge Rana Zaki Shamsi, a member of PTI was with Ghaffar, and he was also physically assaulted & attacked. “They fear defeat & are restoring to violence,” he added.

PTI’s Imran Ismail condemned the incident said the PPP were attacking opponents as “they are fearing their defeat”.

PPP’s Saeed Ghani responded to the claims later.

“Bilal Ghaffar, fearing the certain defeat of Imran Niazi in NA-237, tried to spoil the situation,” Ghani said in a statement, adding that “bullying and intimidation are the hallmarks of PTI”.

“Saleem Baloch reached the polling station after receiving information about Bilal Ghaffar’s hooliganism,” Ghani said.“The ECP must immediately take notice of the violence demonstrated by the PTI,” he demanded.

The PPP leader said Imran’s team was now making excuses for their “face-saving” to divert attention from people’s “lack of support for them”.

Meanwhile, Malir police, in a statement, said Ghaffar sustained an injury during a clash at Ghazi School over a “personal dispute” and was shifted to a nearby hospital. It said that further investigation was underway.

Action sought against ‘unauthorised persons’ at Karachi polling station
Sindh election commission took notice of media reports about the presence of some people belonging to special police (SPL) branch at polling station no.63 in NA-237, Malir.

Some TV channels aired footage showing SPL officers inside the polling station in violation of the ECP conduct.

“The presence of any unauthorised person in the polling station is not allowed and is violation of the election code of conduct,” Sindh ECP official said in a letter to the provincial police chief.

He said an immediate necessary action must be taken against such unauthorised persons across the board and sought a report of the incident from the Sindh IGP.

He also ordered authorities to enhance security in both the constituencies of Karachi to maintain law and order situation.

Meanwhile, Sindh Information Minister and PPP leader Sharjeel Memon posted a video showing “Gohar Khatak PTI activist roaming in polling stations along with criminals and weapons”.

In the video, a man wearing PTI colours around his neck can be seen speaking and gesturing aggressively to a man — seemingly an election official — in what appears to be a polling station.

“PTI MPAs and MNAs are illegally visiting every polling station and threatening presiding officers,” he added. “ECP is not taking action of the illegal movement of PTI leaders?”

Earlier, turnout was reported to be low on a balmy Sunday. So low was the turnout, it seemed, that a policeman in Karachi’s NA-237 constituency took the opportunity to take a nap.

Footage broadcast on television showed a policeman sleeping in what appeared to be a polling station, his head down on a bench as women voters sat on school benches while others queued up to cast their votes.

It is not clear which polling station it is.

A heavy contingent of Rangers was patrolling the various areas of the two NA constituencies of Karachi — NA-237 and NA-239, the Sindh Rangers said in a statement, adding that mobile patrols and motorcycle squads were deployed.

Women wait for their turn outside a polling station in Sindh’s Korangi area on Sunday.—DawnNewsTV
Model Colony, Saudabad, Khokhrapar, Malir Halt, Bakra Padi, Malir 15, Quaidabad and Manzil Pump, were the areas that the Rangers were patrolling, according to the statement.

The Karachi Police, meanwhile, said more than 7,000 personnel are performing security duties to ensure the polling process is peaceful.

“Rapid response teams of the police and Rangers have been deployed at sensitive polling stations to deal with any untoward incident,” the statement added, urging the public to keep an eye on their surroundings and immediately report any suspicious or unusual activity to the police on helpline 15.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Meanwhile, television broadcast footage of ANP and PTI workers arguing and furiously chanting inside the Shaheed Hasanain School polling station in Peshawar.

Because of the hubbub, voting was paused for some time, and there were reports of a worker receiving a minor injury. ANP workers claimed that their opponents were trying to influence the election.

Dawn.com’s correspondent at the scene confirmed that police had reached the polling station and took two workers into custody, following which voting resumed. It is not clear which party the workers belonged to at this point.

City Peshawar SP Abdul Salam Khalid told Dawn.com that the situation was “under control”, adding that the police deployed more personnel than was required to ensure security.

“It’s an election day and minor bickering will occur, but the issues have been resolved. We also involved local elders who assured police of their role in ensuring free and fair elections,” he said.

Meanwhile, ANP’s Samar Haroon Bilour posted a video of herself flashing a thumbs-up after voting. The video was later removed.

In Peshawar’s NA-31 constituency, Returning Officer Saeed Ahmed said agents of political parties are at every booth and the counting process will also be done under their supervision.

“The election staff is bound to give the copy of Form 45 to the polling agent and Election Commission,” Ahmed added.

Punjab
PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry, in a press conference in Nankana Sahib, claimed Imran Khan was winning “with a large margin” as he urged voters to get out and give a “befitting response” to US President Joe Biden, who remarked Pakistan has nuclear weapons but “without any cohesion”.

The provincial election commission’s spokesperson Huda Ali Gohar quoted the returning officer as saying an altercation occurred between political workers outside a polling station in PP-209 Khanewal. “Security personnel controlled the situation timely,” Gohar said, adding that voting continued without interruption.

Gohar did not specify which parties were involved in the altercation.

In a separate statement, Gohar said the district monitoring officer for Faisalabad’s NA-108 constituency issued a notice to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for violating the code of conduct.

“Rana Sanaullah participated in the door-to-door election campaign and corner meeting of candidate Abed Sher Ali,” the statement said. Ali is the PML-N’s candidate for the NA-108 Faisalabad-VIII constituency.

Sanaullah has been summoned for an explanation on October 16 by 10am.

The election official wrote to the Faisalabad deputy commissioner and City Police ordering them to “immediately evict” public officeholders from the constituency.

“No public office holder is allowed to enter the constituency till the completion of the election process,” the district returning officer was quoted by Gohar as saying, warning disciplinary action for any government employee if they help office holders enter the boundaries of the constituency during polling.

Meanwhile, speaking to the media in Faisalabad after casting his vote, Sanaullah said that law enforcement agencies would perform their duties so the by-elections were held properly and the nation’s decision could be determined smoothly.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah speaks to media in Faisalabad on Sunday. — DawnNewsTV
About the reports of armed men wandering in election areas, he said this was unacceptable and called upon authorities to take action against it.

In a separate statement, the ECP rejected the claims of PTI leader Farrukh Habib that the names of various voters had been missing from the voter list.

Earlier in the day, Habib had claimed that the voter list provided to polling agents at polling station no.162 in NA-108 had the names of several voters missing.

Responding to his accusations, the ECP said the election in the respective constituency was delayed due to insufficient security.

“Voter lists are compiled under a transparent and error-free process,” the electoral watchdog insisted.

In another development, DPO Sheikhupura Faisal Mukhtar said three people were taken into custody in the PP-139 constituency after arms were recovered from their vehicle.

“The suspects were arrested [during snap checking] for violation of the election code of conduct while a case has also been registered against them,” the senior officer said in a statement.

He said violations of the election code of conduct would not be tolerated.

Politicians urge people to get out and vote
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on people to “fully participate” in the by-elections. In a tweet, he urged people to make a “well-considered decision” because the “development and prosperity of you and your country depends on it”.

PTI chairman Imran Khan, meanwhile, said “everyone must turn out to vote in all the constituencies where by-elections are being held today and characterised the polls as referendum. “This is a referendum for Haqiqi Azadi from the cabal of crooks. We are contesting against all of PDM, the Election Commission and ‘namaloom afraad’.”

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb urged people to come out and announce their decision against “fraud and lies of actual independence” through ballot.

In a tweet, she referred to PTI leaders, saying there were a “a group of conspirators”, adding that the masses were already upset by their performance.

Ahead of the vote, PTI candidate for Multan’s NA-157 constituency, Mehar Bano Qureshi, urged people to cast their vote with “responsibility” and also protect their ballot.

In a video message, Qureshi asked voters in NA-157 to inform a relevant polling agent if they encounter anything suspicious. “You have to make our kaptaan win.”

PTI leader and former governor Sindh Imran Ismail urged voters to come out in large numbers and vote for Imran Khan.

In a tweet, he said it was a historic day that will determine the future of the nation.

PPP leader Sherry Rehman said Imran was “humiliating” his party leaders and voters by contesting from all NA seats himself in the by-polls.

“People should vote only for a candidate who can represent them in parliament and be their voice,” she tweeted.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said earlier that a sufficient num*ber of police and Rangers personnel would be deployed for maintaining law and order on the polling day.

A central control room has been established at the ECP head office in Islamabad which will monitor the voting process across the country.

In Punjab, 1,434 polling stations have been established, 979 in KP and 340 in Karachi. The election campa*ign concluded at midnight on Friday.

Police personnel stand guard outside a polling station in Faisalabad on Sunday.—DawnNewsTV
Imran Khan has been vigorously running the campaign of his party, while senior PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz, who had led all previous by-election campaigns for her party, is presently in London to see her father Nawaz Sharif.

The NA seats were vacated after speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had, on July 28, accepted the resignations of PTI MNAs — nine on general seats and two on reserved seats for women — sparking controversy over the piecemeal acceptance of resignations.

A man casts his vote during the by-election in Karachi on Sunday.—DawnNewsTV
The lawmakers whose resignations were ratified were part of more than 120 who had resigned from their NA seats en masse on April 11, two days after former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from the top office in a no-confidence vote.

The by-elections were originally scheduled to be held during September but were postponed by the ECP which cited the unavailability of security personnel in the wake of catastrophic floods across the country.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

Imran Khan won six National Assembly seats for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a by-election on Sunday that was seen as a direct contest between the former ruling party and the current ruling coalition, which also grabbed two seats.

Out of the eight National Assembly seats previously held by the PTI, Imran contested on seven, while Meher Bano Qureshi was to defend the party’s bastion in Multan. However, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) made inroads, with Hakeem Baloch winning in Karachi and Ali Musa Gilani in Multan.

According to the unofficial results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Imran won the National Assembly seats from Mardan, Charsadda and Peshawar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Faisalabad and Nankana Sahib in Punjab and the Korangi district of Karachi in Sindh.

The PPP won in Multan, Punjab and Malir district of Karachi. Besides, by-polls were also held on three seats of the Punjab Assembly previously held by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). According to the unofficial results, the PTI emerged victorious on two seats, while the PML-N retained one.

The results gave both sides something to go ahead. Based on PTI’s popularity and its momentum, many expected that the party would clean sweep but this didn’t happen. Victories in Multan and Karachi for the joint candidates for PPP and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) also gave face-saving to the PPP.

The voting remained peaceful, though there were sporadic incidents of clashes. PTI Karachi President Bilal Ghaffar was injured in an alleged attack in Malir. In Peshawar, there were heated arguments between PTI and the Awami National Party (ANP) workers. However, polling continued on police intervention.

The turnout, however, remained low. Experts believed that both sides – the ruling alliance and the PTI – should be worried because of the abysmal voter turnout in several constituencies despite massive campaigning by both sides.

The by-elections were triggered by the PTI’s decision to resign en masse from the assembly after the removal of the party government through a vote of no-confidence in April this year. Sunday’s voting was held on seats where the resignations were accepted by Speaker Raja Parvaiz Ashraf.

The by-elections were held on three seats in K-P, three seats in Punjab and two seats in Sindh. And it was unprecedented in the country’s political history that one candidate, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, contested for as many as seven National Assembly seats.

The results

According to the unofficial results, Imran single-handedly trounced the ruling alliance in at least five out of eight constituencies of the National Assembly. He defeated several bigwigs, including Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and Aimal Wali Khan of the ANP as well as Abid Sher Ali of the PML-N.

In NA-108 (Faisalabad-VIII), the real contest was witnessed between Imran Khan and PDM’s joint candidate Abid Sher Ali. Imran bagged 79,453 votes against Abid Sher Ali’s 59,187 votes. In the 2018 elections, PTI’s Farrukh Habib had defeated Abid Sher Ali by securing 112,182 votes.

Similarly, in NA-118 (Nankana Sahib-II), Imran defeated PDM’s joint candidate Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan. Imran bagged 59,815 votes against Dr Khan’s 53,528 votes. In the 2018 general elections, PTI’s Ijaz Ahmad Shah won this seat by getting 63,918 votes against Dr Khan’s 61,395 votes.

In NA-157 (Multan-IV), Ali Musa Gillani, son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, of the PPP defeated Mehar Bano Qureshi, daughter of PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, by securing 79,743 votes. Qureshi, by contrast, polled 59,993 votes.

In NA-31 (Peshawar) the PTI chairman secured 57,824 votes while ANP's Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilor secured 32,253 votes. Imran Khan won NA-22 (Mardan) by polling 76,681 votes, while Maulana Muhammad Qasim of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam clinched 68,181 votes. In NA-24 Charsadda, Imran won by getting 78,589 votes against ANP’s provincial President Aimal Wali Khan, who garnered 68,356 votes.

In NA-237 (Malir} Abdul Hakeem Baloch of the PPP secured 32,567 votes, against Imran Khan, who barely collected 22,493 votes. In NA-239 Korangi, Imran won by securing 50,014 votes while Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) Nayyar Raza got 18,116 votes.

By-elections were also held for three Punjab Assembly constituencies – PP-139 (Sheikhupura-V), PP-209 (Khanewal-VII) and PP-241 (Bahawalnagar-V). The by-elections were triggered after two PML-N provincial lawmakers had resigned, while one seat fell vacant after a PML-N lawmaker was disqualified.

The PDM-backed Chaudhry Iftikar Bhangu of the PML-N won PP-139 (Sheikhupura-V) by securing 23,765 votes. In PP-209 (Khanewal-VII), PTI’s Muhammad Faisal Niazi defeated PDM-backed Chaudhry Ziaur Rehman by securing 71,586 votes. Rehman emerged as runner-up with 57,864 votes. Similarly, in PP-241 (Bahawalnagar-V), PTI’s Malik Muzaffar Awan bagged 55,005 votes against PML-N Amanullah Bajwa’s 48,650 votes.

 

[daytrader]

PTI to celebrate triumph in by-polls with ‘thanksgiving day’
Asad Umar clarifies Imran won't go back to National Assembly; says by-polls a 'referendum' against PDM

PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:
PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar said on Sunday that Imran Khan would not return to the National Assembly and will also not take the oath after winning the latest by-polls.

The PTI leader's statement came as unconfirmed results of Sunday's by-polls showed that the party had recaptured multiple National Assembly seats and was also in the lead in two others, while also grabbing Punjab Assembly seats previously held by PML-N.

For PTI particularly, the by-polls had assumed ‘plebiscitary’ dimensions as it saw in its victory a potential prelude to success in the general elections and ousted Imran’s return to office. The former prime minister is the PTI’s sole candidate running for seven of the eight NA seats, an unprecedented move in the country’s political history.

Umar’s clarification that Imran would decide against going back to the parliament echoed the consistent line taken by the party that the decision to defeat the mighty coalition after it muscled Imran out of power would be only symbolic in nature.

In conversation with journalists as the election results were pouring in, Umar termed the by-elections "a referendum".

The former federal minister said the party's chairman has directed all workers to observe "Youm-e-Tashakur" (thanksgiving day).He went on to say that the results of the by-polls should serve as a wake-up call for the “decision-makers” who, he said, made a “mistake”.

He said the results of the by-elections were also reflective of the wrath of the people who have been subjected to the "incompetent mafia" for the last six months, adding the masses have rejected the coalition government.

“The people have woken up to the fact that Pakistan has reached an important turning point and they have two options — join the war of ‘foreign countries’ or take decisions in line with national interests.”

‘General elections in a few days’

Meanwhile, rejoicing at the results, PTI central leader Dr Shahbaz Gill predicted that the general elections will be announced in a few days after the results of Sunday’s by-polls.

In a Twitter message, he said that the country was heading towards general elections after today’s by-poll results. “The nation should be prepared as an announcement is going to be made regarding general elections in a few days.”

He further said, “The nation has unanimously voiced for not accepting slavery at any cost. Pakistanis want to make their own decisions and the nation gives its decision today.”

‘A befitting response to US President’

PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry, in a press conference in Nankana Sahib, claimed Imran Khan was winning “with a large margin” as he urged voters to get out and give a “befitting response” to US President Joe Biden, who remarked Pakistan has nuclear weapons but “without any cohesion”.PTI senior leader and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail said that even politicos like PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto lacked the support and muscles to defeat Imran.

Addressing the media, he threw a challenge to PPP to slug it out with the PTI chief in its own pocket boroughs like Larkana or Lyari. "Fight against Imran from any place, and you will be routed."

"MQM has been wiped out of existence there. Imran Khan defeated them thoroughly," he added.

‘A referendum against gang of thieves'

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan termed PTI’s “great success” in the by-elections in the three constituencies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a “referendum against the gang of thieves”.

Taking to Twitter to announce PTI’s victory in three constituencies in K-P –NA-22 Mardan, NA-31 Peshawar, and NA-24 Charsadda – he said that the people of the province have completely rejected PDM.

He said he was deeply grateful for the love, hard work and trust of the people and workers, especially Peshawar, Mardan and Charsadda.

Meanwhile, Senior PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser said Imran Khan was ousted from power through a “regime change conspiracy” but added that today the former premier stood victorious and dignified. “The entire nation is standing with Imran Khan like a leaden wall.”

Echoing PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar, Qaiser urged all party workers to observe the day of thanksgiving on Monday (today) and asserted that the people have come to understand the fact that Pakistan needed freedom and not slavery.

‘Victory of Pakistan’

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Labour and Culture Shaukat Yousafzai said that Imran emerging victorious on most of the seats and clinching NA seats was the “victory of Pakistan”.

In a statement, he said, "I salute the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. God willing, the PTI government will come for the third time and Imran will form the government with more than two-thirds majority in the whole country”.

He said the defeat of PDM in the by-polls has once again shown that its narrative has been shattered.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

PML-N leader and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Monday blamed rising inflation for his party’s defeat at the hands of PTI in Sunday’s by-elections, saying the Imran Khan-led party secured additional 15,000 votes in every constituency owing to people’s rage against high utility bills.

The remarks from the minister came a day after the PTI managed to secure six out of eight National Assembly seats in the crucial by-elections.

Despite claiming a lion’s share of the seats, the party also lost two of the NA seats — NA-157 Multan-IV and NA-237 Malir-II —that it had won in 2018. Its defeat on both the seats came at the hands of PPP.

The PML-N got just one of the dozen seats up for grabs, winning PP-139 Sheikhupura-V, which was its own seat.

Explaining the reasons for the party’s defeat at a press conference in Islamabad today, the minister said people had “high hopes” from the PML-N after it took the charge in April this year as they expected the party to curtail inflation.

“However, we could not fulfill those expectation,” Sanaullah admitted.

He also reminded the PTI that the PML-N had been winning majority of the by-elections during PTI rule, saying “inflation was the key reason at that time as well”.

He said the government would have overcome the crisis if it was not for floods. The minister maintained that the government would provide relief to people in the coming two to three months.

‘If you want elections, come back to parliament’
Addressing the PTI chief, Sanaullah reiterated that the government cannot be forced to go to polls through use of intimidation.

“If you want elections, then join the parliament. The way to elections is only through the parliament,” he added.

He also warned Imran of a “befitting reply” from the government if his party attempted to march on Islamabad.

He called out the PTI for “introducing the culture of mob”, saying if the nation believed “this culture can continue then we are also a part of the country and we will pursue it as well.”

Sanaullah said PTI must brace for the consequences of the tactics it was employing, warning the that plan of the Imran-led party will eventually came back to haunt it.

DAWN

 

[Gayle_Force]

which is why they lost two seats which they held before right?

I thought they were selected on these 8 seats before and not elected?

 

[Bewal Express]

which is why they lost two seats which they held before right?

Javed Latif is claiming that they are forced to stay on in govt? By whom? The puppeteer will leave the stage but the puppets are damaged forever.

 

[Bewal Express]

pti lost a seat from which they held and resigned from..... but sure celebrate it as victory....... whatever feeds the narrative

Why were these 8 seats chosen? Who chose them and why? You told the ECP was neutral but the tapes tell us differently. You guys are humiliated by losers and you will continue to be because of your badniyaati. No matter when it comes your thugs can't win any election without resorting to thuggery like yesterday.

 

[MenInG]

The ruling coalition parties Monday rejected PTI Chairman Imran Khan's demand for early elections and said that the decision to fix a date for the polls rests only with the government.

The coalition parties, in a statement, said that the government would "not allow any mob to impose a decision [related to the elections] on the basis of force".

"Those who take the law into their hands will be dealt with according to the Constitution and the law."

The coalition parties also strongly condemned the allegations and statements issued against former president Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

Regarding the appointment of the next army chief, the statement said that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will make a decision on the matter as per the law of Pakistan, adding that the "foreign-funded rabble-rouser" Khan would not be allowed to use "intimidation and dictation tactics" to have his own way.

They further added that the aim of targeting the army chief, leadership of intelligence institutions, officers, chief election commissioner, and others is tantamount to "blackmailing", which is definitely not a political act but a part of a conspiracy, which will not be allowed to succeed.

"It is clear that as per the Constitution and law of the country, only the premier has the constitutional authority to make appointments to important posts, including that of the army chief," the statement read.

Referring to Khan, the statement further added that "a person deprived of power is targeting national institutions under a deliberate agenda."

"Actions like dirty campaigns against the martyrs of the Pakistan Army, and encouragement of rebellion in the army are tantamount to anti-nationalism which will be dealt with according to the Constitution and law."

The ruling parties added that the Constitution, democracy, and system will not be allowed to be enslaved on the basis of bullying and intimidation.

The statement also clarified that the economy of the country and the rehabilitation of the flood victims is the top national priority at this time, on which there will be no compromise.

"The government, institutions, and the people of Pakistan agree that political instability will not be allowed to derail the economy, while access to resources for flood victims will not be affected in any way."

TheNews

 

[Savak]

Nothing happens in the country without the blessing of Khlai Maqhlooq.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday challenged the NA-237 by-election result in the Sindh High Court, ARY News reported.

Pakistan People’s Party’s Hakeem Baloch defeat PTI chairman Imran Khan in the NA-237 by-poll, as per unofficial and unconfirmed results.

The plea moved by PTI Sindh president Ali Zaidi alleged that massive rigging was done during the by-poll in NA-237. The workers of the Pakistan People’s Party cast ‘fake’ votes during Sunday’s by-poll, the plea said.

 

[cric_man]

Nothing happens in the country without the blessing of Khlai Maqhlooq.

or Mehekma zaraat.

 

[daytrader]

IMRAN KHAN WINS NA-45 KURRAM BY-POLLS BY BIG MARGIN

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has grabbed victory in NA-45 Kurram by-polls by a big margin, according to the unofficial and unconfirmed results

According to unofficial and unconfirmed results, PTI chief Imran Khan won NA-45 Kurram by-polls by securing 20,748 votes as per the unofficial results of 143 polling stations.

The PTI chairman was followed by Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate Jamil Khan who secured 12,718 votes.

Interestingly, Khan defeated his political opponents by a big margin despite being disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the Toshakhana reference.

The counting of votes has concluded after polling in on a National Assembly seat (NA-45) from Kurram tribal district, which started at 8 am today, has ended amid tight security.

The Kurram by-election was originally postponed from Oct 16 due to the law and order situation in the constituency.

There were 16 candidates including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, Jamil Khan of Jamiat Ulema e Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and Sher Muhammad Khan of Jamaat Islami (JI) who contested the elections.

There are 198,618 registered voters — 111,349 men and 87,269 women — in the constituency, according to the spokesman of the Election Commission Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

ARY

 

[daytrader]

ECP to notify Imran Khan as winning candidate from 7 NA seats he won in October 2022
ECP says PTI chief has submitted all financial details of election expenses to the electoral body

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday decided to declare Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan the winning candidate from all seven National Assembly seats.

Announcing the verdict — reserved by a five-member bench on December 20, 2022 — the ECP revealed that the former prime minister had submitted all details of the election expenses that he incurred during the by-elections held in October.

Last year, the ECP had taken notice of the PTI chief’s failure to submit the details of election expenses for the constituencies he had contested in October 2022.

Khan won the majority of seats in by-elections on October 16 as he contested seven of eight seats and won six. After making history by winning six seats in by-polls, the PTI chief added another feather to his cap by winning from the NA-45 Kurram constituency later in the same month.

In its verdict announced today, the electoral body ignored the delay in the submission of the details of the expenses and directed officials to notify Khan as the winning candidate accepting the PTI plea.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1...khan-as-winning-candidate-from-all-7-na-seats