Vote counting has started after polling ended in 13 constituencies of the National and Punjab Assemblies. Voting ran from 8am to 5pm without any breaks. Polling took place in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, and Haripur.
Voters came out throughout the day. In Faisalabad’s NA-104, a disabled couple arrived to cast their votes. In Sargodha, a groom reached the polling station with his wedding procession. He said voting was more important than heading to his wedding venue.
Some issues were reported. In PP-269 at the Government Girls High School Karam Dad, PPP and independent candidate supporters accused each other of rigging. Polling was briefly stopped.
The Election Commission set up control rooms in Islamabad and Lahore. Out of 2,792 polling stations, 408 were declared highly sensitive and 1,032 sensitive. Over 20,000 security personnel were deployed.
In NA-18 Haripur, nine candidates contested the seat. A close contest is expected between PTI-backed independent Shehrnaz, PML-N’s Babar Nawaz Khan, and PPP’s Iram Fatima. The seat fell vacant after Omar Ayub’s disqualification.
NA-96 Faisalabad saw 16 candidates in the race. PML-N’s Talal Badar Chaudhry faced several independents. The seat was left vacant after Rai Haider Ali Kharal was disqualified.
In NA-104 Faisalabad, PML-N’s Raja Danial competed against four independents. The seat became vacant after Hammad Raza’s conviction in the May 9 case.
In NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan, eight candidates contested. A tough competition is expected between PML-N’s Mahmood Qadir Leghari and PPP’s Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa. The seat was vacated after Zartaj Gul’s disqualification.
Counting is in progress. Results are expected soon.
Alos read: Low turnout marks early hours as by-elections continue
