04 July 2004	Sunday	15 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

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LAHORE, July 3: The ruling PML on Saturday won bypolls all four Punjab Assembly seats - one in Lahore and three in Bahawalpur. In PP-156 (Lahore), the PML capitalized on the failure of the opposition - PPP and PML-N - to field a joint candidate. The MMA did not put up its nominee as it supported the PML-N.

In a dull contest which overall remained peaceful, PML's Shoaib Siddiqui secured 8,700 votes against 5,400 of PPP's Ibad Qureshi and 4,000 of PML-N's Naseer Bhutta, reveal unofficial results announced late on Saturday evening.

In Bahawalpur, PML's Sardar Khalid Mahmood Warren (PP-269 Ahmedpur East), Chaudhry Shoaib Karim (PP-275 Yazman) and Dr Muhammad Afzal (PP-276 Yazman tehsil) were unofficially declared elected on Saturday night.

Bahawalpur bypoll a low-key affair

BAHAWALPUR, July 3: Low turnout and lack of interest on the part of voters and opposition candidates were the hallmark of the bypolls to all the three Punjab assembly seats in the Bahawalpur district.

The overall turnout of voters was not more than 25 per cent. This correspondent visited several polling stations and booths in all the three constituencies. The turnout was dismally low.

Some polling stations could attract only few voters. Absence of female voters was conspicuous at most of the stations. All the constituencies lacked the traditional hustle and bustle, although it was a local holiday. At a station, the voters were asked to queue up for the photograph.

The PP-275 constituency presented the worst picture where only few posters and banners could be seen. However, at some points, banners of only PML's Shoaib Karim were visible. The polling stations were also without agents of PPP candidate.

However, in PP-276, the election campaign by PML candidate Dr Muhammad Afzal was felt as his posters and banners could be seen at many places. PPP's Iftikhar Cheema's agents were also present at some stations.

In PP-269, which is basically a rural area seat, the turnout was slightly better compared to Yazman tehsil's constituencies.

At Hatehji, where the Punjab CM had addressed a public meeting on June 18, the turnout was about 21 per cent.

Another reason of somewhat better turnout was that of the personal influence of PML candidate Malik Khalid Mahmood Warren, whose brother Sardar Aamir Yar Warren is a PPP (Patriot) MNA. The law and order situation remained under control.

At polling stations in Yazman tehsil, some voters told newsmen that they had become tired of polling as this was the third such exercise since October 2002.

Commuters had to face inconvenience for the second day on Saturday as most of vehicles were impounded by the police for the bypoll.

RESULTS: PML candidates Sardar Khalid Mahmood Warren (PP-269 Ahmedpur East tehsil), Chaudhry Shoaib Karim (PP-275 Yazman tehsil) and Dr Muhammad Afzal (PP-276 Yazman tehsil) were unofficially declared elected on Saturday night.

According to preliminary counting in PP-269, Sardar Khalid Mahmood Warren secured 33,663 votes while his only opponent PPP's Sardar Riaz Ahmad Dahar could bag only 1,527 votes.

In PP-275 Yazman tehsil, PML's Chaudhry Shoaib Karim obtained 27,870 votes while PPP's Ijaz Rasool got 2,529 votes.

In PP-276 Yazman tehsil, PML's Dr Muhammad Afzal secured 32,654 votes. His rival PPP candidate Iftikhar Cheema obtained only 1,837 votes.