Islamabad, August 23, 2025: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), key partners in the federal coalition government, have announced that they will jointly contest the upcoming by-elections across the country.
Federal Railways Minister and senior PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi confirmed the decision at a joint press conference in Islamabad on Saturday. “Both parties [PPP and PML-N] have agreed to contest the by-elections together. We are allies, and the leadership of both parties has shown maturity in taking this decision for the country’s best interest,” he said.
The by-polls were scheduled after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers following their convictions in cases linked to the May 9 riots.
According to the ECP schedule:
- September 18: NA-66 (Wazirabad), NA-129 (Lahore-XIII), PP-87 (Mianwali-III)
- October 5: NA-143 (Sahiwal-III), NA-185 (DG Khan-II), PP-203 (Sahiwal-VI), NA-96 (Faisalabad-II), NA-104 (Faisalabad-X), and PP-98 (Faisalabad-I)
PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said the two parties had finalised a seat-adjustment formula, under which the candidate who finished runner-up in the last general election would be fielded again in that constituency. “We welcome the PML-N delegation and have finalised the electoral arrangements amicably,” he said, adding that the agreement was reached with the facilitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The disqualified PTI lawmakers include senior leaders such as Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul, who were convicted by anti-terrorism courts in connection with the violent May 9 protests of 2023. Thousands of PTI supporters had stormed public property and military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s House, after party founder Imran Khan was arrested in a graft case outside the Islamabad High Court.
While several PTI leaders and workers were later granted bail, many remain in detention as cases related to the riots continue.
