In the July 25 polls, PTI's Ghulam Sarwar Khan won NA-63 (Rawalpindi-VII) and NA-59 (Rawalpindi-III) ─ both traditionally PML-N strongholds where Chaudhry Nisar wielded a great deal of influence.

Khan retained NA-59 and vacated NA-63.

The contenders for the seat are:

• Mansoor Hayat Khan (PTI)
• Aqeel Malik (PML-N)
• Syed Ishrat Ali Zaidi (PPP)
• Qurban Ali (TLP)
• Syed Haider Ali Shah (Ind)

The constituency consists of the semi-hilly and plain areas of Taxila and Wah, with eight union councils from Taxila city along with rural areas such as Dhumial, where family affiliations affect voter decisions.

The PTI's candidate for the by-polls, Mansoor Hayat Khan, is Ghulam Sarwar's son.

Chaudhry Nisar, who contested the General Election as an independent after a tiff with the PML-N, has distanced himself from the by-poll.

The constituency has 370,938 registered voters – 195,223 men and 175,715 women.