Islamabad, November 23, 2025: Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja on Sunday described the by-elections held today as “very peaceful,” praising the support extended by the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments.
Addressing the media at the Election Commission office, Raja noted that voter turnout in by-elections is generally low due to multiple factors. He explained that this particular election was not expected to bring a major change in numbers, which contributed to lower public interest.
The Chief Election Commissioner said the ECP took strict action against violations of the code of conduct, adding that District Returning Officers (DROs) had submitted reports and that the commission itself acted on several complaints. He emphasized that no unusual complaints were received during today’s polls.
Raja further informed that Federal Minister Talal Chaudhry has been summoned on Monday for a hearing. He recalled that in previous local government elections, a minister and a candidate had been disqualified for breaching the code of conduct.
“Every election has some violations,” Raja said, noting that the legal framework exists for addressing such issues. He also clarified that while the ECP regularly sends suggestions to the government, it does not have the authority to instruct tribunals.
