PML-N candidate Shaista Malik on Sunday won the NA-133 by-election by a wide margin after securing 46,811 votes amid low turnout, according to unofficial results, retaining the party seat that fell vacant after the death of MNA Pervez Malik.
The by-poll was contested by the PPP while the PTI candidate was knocked out on the technical ground, Aaj News reported.
According to unofficial results, PPP’s Aslam Gill secured 32,313 votes in a race that was peaceful, except for a couple of minor clashes between activists of the two major opposition parties.
The jubilant PML-N workers had started celebrating the victory with fireworks and dance.
Taking to Twitter, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif dedicated the success to his friend, late Pervez Malik. "Grateful to NA133 for their unwavering trust!"
"Lahore was and will always be PML-N's fortress.ٰ In the by-poll, people prudently cast votes. Next time there will be one to take the PTI ticket," PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar said in a statement.
In reaction, Punjab government spokesperson Hassan Khawar said: "The Lahore by-election was a trailer of 90s horror movie. Same two political parties, similar vote thieves accusations and same old promises."
As per media reports, the voter turnout remained 18.59 per cent as out of total 440,845 voters, only 80,022 used their rights to exercise vote. At least 898 votes were rejected.
The counting of the votes had started after the conclusion of voting at 5 pm. The polling started at 9 am and continued till 5 pm without break.
At the request of the Election Commission (ECP), the provincial home department deployed Rangers along with police during the NA-133 Lahore by-election.
The Punjab election commission had declared 199 out of 254 polling stations sensitive. Closed-circuit television cameras were also installed at the sensitive polling stations. The total number of voters in NA-133 is 440,485.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had allotted election symbols to candidates vying for the NA-133. There are 11 candidates in the run but the main contest was expected between Pakistan PML-N’s Shaista Pervez Malik and PPP’s Aslam Gill.
It may be noted that the nomination papers of PTI candidates, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema and Musarrat Iqbal Cheema, in NA-133 Lahore, were rejected by the ECP during a scrutiny process. The PML-N had raised objections that their proposers and seconders were not from the constituency.
