NAROWAL: Up to 15 candidates, including three women, will contest the by-election for PP-52 Sialkot-IX.

The seat fell vacant after the death of PML-N MPA Chaudhry Arshad Warraich, prompting the Election Commission of Pakistan to issue a schedule for the by-poll.

The returning officer has released the final list of candidates. Among the contenders are three women – Hina Arshad Warraich, Shaista Parveen and Sahar Mahmood. The PML-N has awarded its party ticket to Ms Warraich, the daughter of the late MPA. She is not a new face in politics, as she previously served as Sialkot District Council chairman.

The PPP has nominated Raheel Kamran Cheema, who is receiving active support from senior PPP leaders, including former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, former federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and Governor Sardar Saleem Haider.

Another ticket-holder is Mohammad Shafqat from Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

Hassan Tauqeer Cheema is contesting the election on the Pakistan Nazriyati Party ticket.

Independent candidate Fakhr Nishat Ghuman is backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

PTI’s Central General Secretary Salman Akram Raja has instructed party workers in Sambrial to vote for Ghuman, saying that a win for him would be a victory for Imran Khan.

PTI-backed MNA Mohammad Aslam Ghuman and former MPA Mohammad Azim Noor are also running a full-fledged campaign for him. Eleven candidates are contesting as independents.

TLP candidate Mohammad Shafqat is also actively campaigning, supported by central TLP leaders and local workers. All candidates are holding corner meetings and reaching out to voters with their manifestos in a bid to secure support ahead of the polling day, which is scheduled for June 1.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2025