ISLAMABAD (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday congratulated PML-N candidates for what he described as a resounding victory in Sunday’s by-elections, held amid the PTI’s boycott in all but two constituencies, low voter turnout and widespread allegations of rigging.
According to provisional results, the PML-N secured all six National Assembly seats and six out of seven Punjab Assembly seats. The PPP won one provincial seat, contesting only three out of the 13 constituencies. Most seats had fallen vacant after PTI lawmakers were disqualified following convictions in May 9 cases.
In statements issued by the PM’s Office, the premier extended congratulations to PML-N winners from NA-18 (Haripur), NA-96 and NA-104 (Faisalabad), NA-185 (Dera Ghazi Khan), PP-73 (Sargodha), PP-87 (Mianwali), and Faisalabad’s PP-98, PP-115 and PP-116. He said these victories reflected the public’s confidence in party supremo Nawaz Sharif’s vision, Maryam Nawaz’s performance as Punjab chief minister and the hard work of party workers.
Separately, PM Shehbaz highlighted PML-N’s wins in NA-143 (Sahiwal), PP-203 (Sahiwal) and NA-129 (Lahore), attributing them to the party’s agenda of development, stability and public welfare. Nawaz Sharif also congratulated the successful candidates.
In Haripur’s NA-18 constituency, provisional results from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) showed PML-N’s Babar Nawaz Khan winning with 163,996 votes. PTI-backed independent Shehrnaz Omar Ayub finished second with 120,220 votes. The seat fell vacant after the disqualification of her husband, former opposition leader Omar Ayub.
Speaking to reporters, Omar Ayub rejected the results, accusing the returning officer of manipulating the count. He alleged that original Form-45s were ignored and replaced with duplicates, vowing to challenge the results and launch peaceful protests. Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser also dismissed the by-polls as fraudulent, citing rigging, procedural violations and low turnout.
Qaiser claimed voter participation remained between 15% and 18%, asserting that the boycott call was widely observed. He demanded annulment of the results, accusing the ECP of failing to ensure a free and fair process.
Observers note that Haripur’s politics continues to be shaped by local patronage networks. No woman has ever been directly elected to the provincial or national legislature from the district.
Elsewhere, PML-N secured victories in NA-104, NA-129, NA-143, NA-185, PP-73, PP-87, PP-115, PP-116 and PP-203. In NA-96 (Faisalabad-II), Bilal Badar Chaudhry won with 93,009 votes, while in PP-98 (Faisalabad-I), Azad Ali Tabassum clinched victory with 44,388 votes.
The PPP’s sole victory came from Muzaffargarh’s PP-269, where the PML-N did not field a candidate, and the PTI boycotted the poll. Election analyst Ahmed Bilal Mehboob noted that with five additional NA seats, the PML-N could potentially govern without relying on PPP support.
