PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, who lost his seat by the narrowest of margins on July 25, is back in the game.
PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, who lost his seat by the narrowest of margins on July 25, is back in the game.

The candidates for by-polls to eight national and 11 provincial assemblies’ seats in Punjab spent a hectic day to woo voters before the campaign concluded on Friday midnight, Zulqernain Tahir reports.

Will Shahid Khaqan Abbasi return to parliament? Will Saad Rafique reclaim the seat he lost by only 600 votes? How well has the PPP and PML-N's promise to support each other on key seats worked out? Read on to find out.

Opinion

Editorial

A new chokepoint
Updated 24 Jul, 2026

A new chokepoint

WITH free transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz blocked due to the US-Iran conflict, a new chokepoint has...
Improved rating
24 Jul, 2026

Improved rating

S&P GLOBAL’S decision to upgrade Pakistan’s long-term sovereign credit rating to ‘B’ with a stable...
More firetraps
24 Jul, 2026

More firetraps

WHILE it was already apparent that death traps dot Karachi, a safety audit by the Sindh government has thrown up...
De-escalation efforts
23 Jul, 2026

De-escalation efforts

WHILE the exchange of fire across the Gulf — and the wider Middle East — continues between the US and Iran,...
Time to integrate
23 Jul, 2026

Time to integrate

PAKISTAN remains one of the least regionally integrated economies in Asia. The trade figures for the last fiscal ...
Modi unnerved
23 Jul, 2026

Modi unnerved

DISCONTENT is visible in India. Delhi has been on the boil since last month. As thousands took to the streets ...