DADU: The Pakistan Peoples Party’s candidate for PS-80 (Khairpur Nathan Shah) by-election, Zubair Junejo, won the seat unopposed on Friday after forms of six out of 12 contestants were rejected and the remaining decide to pull out of the electoral race.

The constituency’s returning officer issued notification declaring Mr Junejo unopposed winner.

The seat had fallen vacant after the death of Aziz Junejo, who had won the seat in Feb 8 general election. The party had awarded ticket to his nephew Zubair Junejo.

Grand Democratic Alliance district president Sardar Ashiq Ali Zounr and party leader Farooq Malik said at a press conference at Dadu press club that GDA had boycotted the by-election in protest.

They said that people had voted GDA candidates in Mehar and K.N. Shah for both provincial and National Assembly seats on Feb 8 but peoples’ mandate was stolen and later results were managed in favour of PPP candidates. They said that GDA boycotted by-polls in protest over this election fraud.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2024