Islamabad, November 23,2025: Polling has concluded for the by-elections in six National Assembly and seven Punjab Assembly constituencies, marking a politically charged day across multiple districts including Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh and Haripur.
Voting began at 8am under tight security arrangements and continued uninterrupted until the scheduled closing time of 5pm. According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), election materials, including ballot papers, were delivered safely to all polling stations and the process remained largely smooth across the board.
By-elections were held in the following National Assembly constituencies:
- NA-18 Haripur (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
- NA-96 Faisalabad (Punjab)
- NA-104 Faisalabad (Punjab)
- NA-129 Lahore (Punjab)
- NA-143 Sahiwal (Punjab)
- NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan (Punjab)
Polling also took place for seven Punjab Assembly constituencies:
- PP-73 Sargodha
- PP-87 Mianwali
- PP-98 Faisalabad
- PP-115 Faisalabad
- PP-116 Faisalabad
- PP-203 Sahiwal
- PP-269 Muzaffargarh
Most of these seats fell vacant following the disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers convicted in cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The constituencies NA-18 (Haripur) and NA-129 (Lahore) drew significant public and political interest due to their high-profile candidates.
In NA-18, Shehrnaz Omar Ayub, spouse of disqualified PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan, contested as an independent candidate backed by PTI voters, facing PML-N’s Babar Nawaz and PPP’s Erum Fatima.
In Lahore’s NA-129, political attention centred on the contest between PML-N’s Hafiz Mian Nauman and Chaudhry Arsalan Ahmad, nephew of late Mian Azhar. Mian Azhar had won the seat in the 2024 general election as a PTI-backed independent and the seat fell vacant following the death of the lawmaker.
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in Faisalabad, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the by-elections were proceeding peacefully.
“No one has been arrested or stopped in the entire constituency. There is no chance for anyone to complain,” he said, adding that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s visit for a development project had been halted due to the election code of conduct. He estimated voter turnout to be between 25% and 30%.
Security and code of conduct
The ECP reiterated that security forces were deployed strictly according to the constitutional mandate under Article 245. The structure of deployment consisted of:
- Police as first-tier responders
- Civil armed forces as second-tier responders (standby/quick reaction)
- Pakistan Army as third-tier responders (in-situ Quick Reaction Force)
Security personnel were instructed to remain outside polling stations, particularly highly sensitive ones, to ensure voters’ safe and unobstructed access. They were barred from assuming the roles of polling staff, handling ballot materials or interfering in counting.
The ECP also issued a strict code of conduct for media houses, barring the broadcast of unofficial results from any polling station until at least one hour after polls closed. Only Returning Officers are authorised to announce official results.
Punjab Inspector General of Police reported that more than 20,000 police personnel had been deployed across the province. Of the 2,792 polling stations, 408 were declared highly sensitive and 1,032 were sensitive.
Section 144 remained in effect, and violations related to weapons or public disorder would not be tolerated, the IGP said.
Key constituency snapshots
NA-129 (Lahore)
A total of 558,364 voters were eligible to vote. Seventeen candidates were in the running, though the main contest remained between:
- Hafiz Mian Nauman (PML-N)
- Chaudhry Arsalan Ahmad (Independent/PTI-backed)
The seat was previously held by former Punjab Governor Mian Muhammad Azhar, who passed away earlier this year.
Faisalabad constituencies
Faisalabad saw heated competition across multiple seats:
NA-96
- Candidates: 16
- Main contender: Talal Badar Chaudhry (PML-N)
- Voters: 587,124
- Polling stations: 345
Vacated after PTI’s Rai Haider Ali Kharal was unseated.
NA-104
- Candidates: 5
- Main contender: Raja Daniyal (PML-N)
- Voters: 557,000
- Polling stations: 375
Previously held by SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza before his disqualification.
PP-116
- Features a contest between PML-N’s Rana Shehryar and five independents.
- Voters: 276,000 | Polling stations: 190
PP-115
PML-N’s Tahir Jamil faces four independent candidates for a seat vacated after PTI’s Sheikh Shahid Javed’s disqualification.
NA-18 (Haripur, KP)
- Nine candidates are contesting, including:
- Shehrnaz Omar Ayub (Independent/PTI-backed)
- Babar Nawaz Khan (PML-N)
- Erum Fatima (PPP)
The constituency has 753,000+ voters and 602 polling stations.
NA-185 (Dera Ghazi Khan)
Eight candidates are in the field. The main contest is expected between:
- Mahmood Qadir Leghari (PML-N)
- Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa (PPP)
The seat was vacated after the disqualification of PTI’s Zartaj Gul.
PP-87 (Mianwali)
There are 193 polling stations for 283,272 voters, including 65 sensitive stations.
Major candidates are:
- Ali Haider Noor Khan (PML-N)
- Awaz Khan Niazi (Independent)
- Khalid Masood Khan (JUP)
PP-98 (Faisalabad I)
Ten candidates are running, with a close contest expected between:
- Azad Ali Tabbasum (PML-N)
- Muhammad Ajmal Cheema (Independent)
PP-73 (Sargodha)
Five candidates are contesting. PML-N’s Mian Sultan Ali Ranjha leads the race after the seat was vacated due to the conviction of PTI’s Ansar Iqbal Heral.
PP-269 (Muzaffargarh)
Seventeen candidates are in the field, including:
- Alamdar Abbas Qureshi (PPP)
- Iqbal Khan (Independent)
- Abdul Hai Dasti (Independent)
The ECP is expected to begin receiving results after the mandatory one-hour embargo on unofficial result transmission ends. Final results will be announced by the respective Returning Officers.
