Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) won the NA-260 Quetta-cum-Chagai by-election on Sunday, after a tough contest from the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M).

According to sources in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the JUI-F candidate, Usman Badini, got 43,969 votes, whereas, BNP-M's candidate, Sardar Bahadur Khan Mengal, secured 37,786 votes.

The JUI-F candidate was backed by the National Party (NP), a coalition partner in the Balochistan government, as well as MPA Amanullah Notezai.

The by-elections were held after the death of Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party's (PkMAP) leader, Abdul Rahim Mandokhail, who was elected on this seat during the general elections of 2013 on the party's ticket. PkMAP candidate Jamal Tarakai, however, suffered a major blow in Saturday's polls and secured only 20,169 votes.

PPP candidate Sardarzada Umair Muhammad Hassani secured approximately 15,000 votes. The PPP leaders, however, claimed that the elections were rigged and that their victory was turned into defeat during the elections. PPP supporters held a protest outside the ECP office in the constituency on Sunday.

The Awami National Party, BNP-Awami and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) had supported BNP-M's candidate during the elections, while the PkMAP candidate was supported by Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen.

This win takes the number of JUI-F seats in the National Assembly up to seven while the PkMAP seats decrease from four to three.

According to the ECP, a total of 407 polling stations were established in the constituency, out of which 320 polling stations were declared the most sensitive, 50 were said to be sensitive, and 37 polling stations were declared normal.

Opinion

Editorial

Petrol shock
Updated 08 Mar, 2026

Petrol shock

With oil markets bracing for more volatility, more price shocks are inevitable in the coming weeks.
Women’s Day
08 Mar, 2026

Women’s Day

IT is a simple truth: societies progress when women are able to shape them. Yet the struggle for equality has never...
Rescuing hockey
08 Mar, 2026

Rescuing hockey

PAKISTAN hockey is back to where it should be. Years of misses came to an end on Friday with a long-awaited...
Limiting the damage
Updated 07 Mar, 2026

Limiting the damage

Govt plan to revive a range of Covid-era steps reflect a recognition that early restraint can limit disruptive interventions.
Diplomatic option
07 Mar, 2026

Diplomatic option

WITH Operation Ghazab lil Haq underway for over a week now, Pakistan has demonstrated that it can take firm action...
Polio, again
07 Mar, 2026

Polio, again

ANOTHER child has fallen victim to polio, this time in Sindh. The National Institute of Health this week confirmed...