Major blow to PTI as PML-N wins most NA, provincial seats in by-elections

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) appears to be leading against opponents on the majority of seats in the by-elections held on Sunday, April 21, on 21 national and provincial seats, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced by-elections on 16 provincial seats, including four from the Punjab Assembly and two each from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), along with four National Assembly seats.

Voting took place from 9 am to 5 pm, and during the polling, cellular and internet services remained suspended in 13 cities of Punjab until late night.

Incidents of violent clashes among political supporters occurred, with one leading to the death of a PML-N worker in Narowal.

According to preliminary results, PML-N has outperformed its archrival PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) by securing victory over two national assembly seats in Lahore and Kasur, and 12 provincial constituencies in Punjab.

PPP has secured victory on the lone NA seat from Sindh’s Shahdadkot.

PTI-backed SIC, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid have each won one seat in the provincial assemblies.

PTI-backed candidates have emerged victorious on two seats in DI Khan and Kohat, with Faisal Amin Khan Gandapur leading  in NA-44, as per unofficial results. 

PTI-backed candidates were leading on two seats in DI Khan and Kohat, with PTI-backed Faisal Amin Khan Gandapur securing victory in NA-44, according to unofficial results released by the returning officer in DI Khan.

While the turnout was low in Punjab, PTI-backed SIC raised concerns about alleged rigging after a video of the presiding officer of the Wazirabad polling station circulated on social media. 

He confessed to obtaining signatures on Form 45s before the completion of voting “to save time.”

Former Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi’s wife Sumera Elahi, claimed that ballot papers were forcibly taken and inserted into ballot boxes to favour PML-Q’s Musa Elahi, a nephew of the former CM, at the Kathala polling station, while law enforcement reportedly turned a blind eye to these irregularities.