FAISALABAD, Jan 19: The ruling party nominee and former MNA Mian Amjad Yaseen was elected city district naib nazim on Thursday. Voting through a show of hand was held at a local educational institution amid tight security.

ARD-supported candidate Shaikh Mohammad Yousaf, who was a runner-up in the elections held on Dec 28 last, had switched his loyalties and joined the ruling PML. Most of his group members cast vote in favour of Mr Yaseen on Thursday. Out of the 413 members, Mr Yaseen bagged 313 votes while Rana Mohammad Idrees from independent Hamdard Group secured 35 votes. Some 65 members remained absent during the counting.

PML leaders, including Punjab secretary-general and communication minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, remained present outside the polling station to support Amjad Yaseen.

Meanwhile, the police officials on duty did not allow journalists to enter the polling station premises, saying the returning officer had banned their entry.

The journalists protested over the police act, and demanded the chief election commissioner and government highups to take action against those held responsible.