PTI to boycott Multan by-poll

E-Paper | April 27, 2026

MULTAN: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Monday announced that it was boycotting the by-election for NA-149 (Multan-II), a seat that fell vacant after Javed Hashmi’s resignation and its subsequent acceptance.

PTI’s senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, through a statement, announced that his party will not be contesting by-elections for the seat.

Hashmi’s resignation from NA-149 was accepted when he made an appearance in the National Assembly following his address to the press where he made “disclosures” regarding the PTI leadership’s allegedly anti-democracy designs.

Hashmi had distanced himself from the protest sit-ins organised by PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek in Islamabad when the two parties decided to mount a march on the official residence of the prime minister.

Also read: Profile: Javed Hashmi, the perennial rebel

Hashmi may again contending for the seat for which only one independent candidate has filed nomination papers so far. September 22 (tomorrow) is the last date for filing nominations and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is also likely to field a candidate for the seat.

The by-election for NA-149 is scheduled to be held on October 16.

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Imran Khan

Sep 22, 2014 12:48pm

PTI rendered their resignations from all over Pak except KP that's why not contesting

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shuaib

Sep 22, 2014 12:50pm

Good decision. They know they are not going to win.

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Kaxxx

Sep 22, 2014 12:55pm

PTI won't field it's candidate but how many marks for guessing whether Shah Mehmood Qureshi will field an independent candidate or not? ;)

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Sep 22, 2014 01:12pm

@Imran Khan Oh really! So far they have not confirmed that according to the rules and systems. They are only talking about it for weeks but they were called several time to come and confirm but avoided that so far.

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Vince

Sep 22, 2014 01:17pm

@shuaib Oh, you already know that then. Proves the rigging of 2013 elections.

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Vince

Sep 22, 2014 01:18pm

@Kaxxx Why don't you tell us?

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Gohar Reehan

Sep 22, 2014 01:33pm

@Imran Khan ..... to this date i cannot understand why the rendered resignations to the speaker don't get approved??????

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Awais

Sep 22, 2014 01:39pm

LOL. with fear of losing ? In KPK you contested, now you know you cant win with Hashmi you backing off. First resign from NA

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ash_insafians

Sep 22, 2014 01:52pm

oh pti should contest. it is 100% clear hashmi will loose.

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Raja

Sep 22, 2014 02:03pm

There was no logic in participating in the by elections but Qureshi may field an independent candidate. Looks like PTI policies are controlled by two men: Qureshi and Jahangir tareen, one of them is not even an MNA/MPA where as the elected president was thrown out of the party.I had high hopes from PTI but looks like they are on a suicidal mission.

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roarwali

Sep 22, 2014 02:22pm

A good decision of PTI to not field any candidate. It should start preparation for general elections.

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Dr Khan

Sep 22, 2014 03:12pm

There is no chance of PTI getting even a few thousand votes against Hashmi.That was only logical decision possible by PTI.

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zain

Sep 22, 2014 03:19pm

PTI can't win against him anyway, so boycott is because of fear nothing else.

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Sep 22, 2014 03:23pm

I hope so and I hope they will finally resigned from their seats as well.

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Bilal

Sep 22, 2014 03:41pm

PTI wouldn't have won in any case, so I'd say a pragmatic move Mr. Shah.

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Waheed Awan

Sep 22, 2014 03:43pm

PTI make this decision because they know that they will have to face defeat against Makhdoom Javed Hashami and their popularity will be exposed, so they decided to boycott the by elections of NA-149, Multan.

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Ghalib

Sep 22, 2014 04:15pm

PTI only contest on those places where they are sure to win

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Sara

Sep 22, 2014 04:19pm

PTI had no chance of winning!

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Hussain

Sep 22, 2014 04:40pm

What a miserable sort of captainship is this? Loosing without fight? Javed Hashmi was the only credible person in PTI. They don't have courage to face him. All they can do is to accuse about rigging after loosing elections.

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azam qadeer

Sep 22, 2014 05:07pm

IK Sb go home and try to work in KP other wise if there are election in 2014 PTi will get less seats that last time. you have really made your self bad

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ash_insafians

Sep 22, 2014 05:14pm

pti should contest . hashmi is going to loose obviously.

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Sahil

Sep 22, 2014 05:27pm

Javed Hashmi is going to lost this election against independent candidate ..... that will be the end of Daghi career ........ Good move by PTI, this daghi will also be stabbed by his lord and god NS as well

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zafar

Sep 22, 2014 05:57pm

Boycott election for a club you don't want to join? makes no sense.

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ash_insafians

Sep 22, 2014 06:03pm

pti want to fullfil hashmi's desire which he expressed as "i wish to be burried in pmln's flag." now time has come when his politics is going to be burried.turn out will be very low.

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Abi

Sep 22, 2014 06:07pm

PTI Hypocrite . where you rule Elections are fair only . Election is conducted by Election commission Not Gov. Come on Khan and Co Be Real face the music like Mianwali .

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Adnan

Sep 22, 2014 06:49pm

@azam qadeer Right, if wihout biometric system, like of N Leauge and PPP will win it.

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Talha

Sep 22, 2014 07:02pm

@Ghalib Anybody from any party would do that. Only fools would contest in constituencies where they know they can't win. But in this case PTI won't contest because it would contradict the very reason they resigned from NA. PTI believes that the elections were rigged and that new elections under new ECP with election reforms should take place. Only an opportunist would contest under these circumstances which PTI is not but Hashmi Sahab seems to be.

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naseem

Sep 22, 2014 07:36pm

@Talha : So you are saying that under the same ECP, KP elections were not rigged but in other provinces they were rigged? LOL, go get a life

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Ahmed

Sep 22, 2014 07:47pm

@Vince No, it just proves what anyone with eyes can see - there is no "tsunami" of support for Imran Khan in Pakistan.

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Common Man

Sep 22, 2014 07:51pm

Javed Hashmi emerged as a " Baba-e-.Jamhooriate. PTI fears that if they launch their candidate against him, they will loose badly and may forfeit their "Zamanat". Since people are fed up with their ego and their conspiracy with foreign agencies. They proved to be traitor, trying to defame all institutes of Pakistan, including judiciary, parliament, and army. Now while they are exposed to a greater extent, definitely, people will reject them for ever.

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malick

Sep 22, 2014 07:55pm

PTI must contest and win. HASHMI please rest.

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Common Man

Sep 22, 2014 07:57pm

Imran Khan PTI Innah Lillah wa inna alaihe rajeoon.

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H Chaudhry

Sep 22, 2014 07:59pm

Yeah whatever PTI. We are beyond your childish stuff.

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Common Man

Sep 22, 2014 08:00pm

Make Sure that Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be presiding officer for this election, then they will contest the election.

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Common Man

Sep 22, 2014 08:02pm

@ash_insafians Ha HA - Good sense of humar

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Common Man

Sep 22, 2014 08:03pm

Here is the test for Election commission. If PTI candidate win without filing election papers, that means elections are fair. If JH win, that prove elections are rigged. "Dictionary of rigging" written by IK"

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Lucky Star

Sep 22, 2014 08:33pm

@Imran Khan You know you cannot win.

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shumail

Sep 22, 2014 08:39pm

Well Javed Hashmi has to contend this election in order to prove that his earlier win was due to his personal political status. PTI knew it was and that was the reason they didn't field in

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Saima Khan

Sep 22, 2014 09:25pm

PTI knows they will lose. Qureshi has been in contact with US Embassy: Hashmi http://www.dawn.com/news/1133569/qureshi-has-been-in-contact-with-us-embassy-hashmi

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Talha

Sep 22, 2014 09:27pm

@naseem Yes I say that elections in KPK weren't rigged as per any plan to help PTI. Individual ringings might have taken place and if anyone in KPK has problems in the elections then he or his party should ask PTI to open that constituency and PTI would do so or would facilitate in what ever way possible. PTI won't hesitate in opening that constituency like our dear central government does because PTI's conscience is crystal clear.

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Asad kiyani

Sep 22, 2014 09:32pm

Javed hashmi chapter from multan is finished forever so far he stabed two parties in the back.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 22, 2014 10:18pm

Good decision by PTI. At least unlike the "Ittefaq group" they could read the real "writings on the wall." In fact, even a freshman in politics can easily visualize, understand and analyze that under the current ground realities, it is impossible to beat Javed Hashmi anywhere in the "land of the pure" in any type of free, fair, independent and transparent elections based on secret ballot on the principle of one-person-one-vote basis, both for provincial as well as national assemblies.

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pathanoo

Sep 22, 2014 10:25pm

Here is a chance for Imran Khan to prove that people of Pakistan are with him and support his demonstrations. But, then IK knows that if he put up a candidate for the Multan By-Poll; his candidate will definitely loose. That will further erase any semblance of credibility IK has left. IK, your inning is over. We all thought that you would be different politician, caring and honest but you are no different. You only care for power and you are as dishonest as any politician in Pakistan.

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ash_insafians

Sep 23, 2014 12:34am

@Common Man say innah lillah for nawaz

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