The counting of votes is underway after polling for six National Assembly and seven Punjab Assembly constituencies concluded on Sunday.

The polling continued without a break from 8am to 5pm.

Turnout was low in the early hours due to severe cold, but the situation improved as temperatures rose.

In NA-18 Haripur, members of the transgender community also cast votes.

One transgender voter complained that their address had not been recorded with the electoral lists, causing difficulties for them.

An interesting scene was witnessed in Sahiwal, where a groom left his wedding procession to cast his vote.

In Faisalabad, an elderly man arrived at the polling station supported by a walking stick, while disabled voters in several constituencies also participated in the by-elections.

Tensions flared at a men’s polling station in Chichawatni, where supporters of the PML-N and an independent candidate exchanged harsh words.

Police reached the spot, intervened and restored order.

Overall, polling remained peaceful, with no major untoward incident reported.

The Election Commission had announced that all polling stations would be closed at 5pm, after which no one would be allowed inside.

According to the commission, voting proceeded smoothly throughout the day with no significant complaints received at the central monitoring room.

A few minor issues were reported from Punjab, but officials said they were resolved promptly.

Strict security arrangements were made for the by-elections, as more than 20,000 police officers and personnel were deployed to ensure law and order.

Most of the seats being contested had fallen vacant due to the disqualification of lawmakers in the May 9 riots cases.

earlier, in Lahore’s NA-129, PTI-backed candidate Moon Javed and party leader Hammad Azhar raised concerns over transparency, alleging ballot manipulation.

Azhar claimed on X that reports from multiple polling stations indicated discrepancies between the number of ballot booklets issued to presiding officers and those recovered during checks.

He also alleged that PTI ticket-holder Nauman Majeed and 11 workers were detained from a polling camp in Babu Sabu, NA-129, and shifted to the Sherakot police station.

Moon Javed added that his polling agents were being barred from entering most stations in the constituency, prompting complaints from “every corner”.

Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari released videos of what she said were empty PTI polling camps, contrasting them with bustling scenes at PML-N camps.

She said PML-N candidates would win with a clear lead, citing the party’s “record of public service”, including housing projects, free medicines, road construction, tractors and e-bikes for farmers, scholarships, and modern transport services.

She accused rival parties of levelling rigging allegations even before polls closed, insisting voters had rejected divisive politics.

ECP tightens monitoring

The Election Commission stated that it had taken stringent measures to ensure the security of polling.

After reports from Faisalabad of voters sharing ballot images on social media, its central control room issued instructions to security personnel to enforce the ban on mobile phones inside polling stations.

Presiding Officers were directed to ensure the secrecy of the vote, while voters were instructed not to bring phones into polling areas.

Officials said polling was peaceful and no untoward incident had been reported so far.

At PP-98 Faisalabad’s polling station 68, no women’s votes had been cast by midday.

Of 1,084 registered male voters, only seven had voted, and no polling agents from any candidate were present.

Disorder was reported at the women’s polling station of PP-269 at Government Girls High School Karam Dad, where supporters of a PPP candidate and an independent clashed with police, accusing each other of rigging. Elite Force personnel were deployed to restore order.

The Punjab Election Commission spokesperson said strict security arrangements were in place across provincial constituencies, urging citizens to vote without fear.

He added that persons with disabilities, pregnant women, senior citizens and transgender voters would be facilitated on priority.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Iqbal Khan said extra security personnel had been deployed inside and outside polling stations, calling on the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

Key contests

A close contest was expected in NA-18 Haripur between PTI-backed independent Sheher Naz, PML-N’s Babar Nawaz Khan and PPP’s Irum Fatima.

The seat fell vacant after Omar Ayub’s disqualification in the May 9 case.

In Lahore’s NA-129, PML-N’s Mian Nauman is attempting a return to parliament, facing Arsalan Ahmed, nephew of Hammad Azhar.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Mian Azhar.

Out of 2,792 polling stations, 408 have been declared highly sensitive and 1,032 sensitive.

Over 20,000 personnel from civil armed forces and the Pakistan Army have been deployed for security, with flag marches conducted in several areas.