GUJRAT: Selection of candidates by the PML-N and PTI was the main difference in the by-election in PP-52 Sambrial (Sialkot).
Hina Arshad Warraich of the PML-N did her campaign like the local bodies election by canvassing in door-to-door campaign whereas the PTI-backed independent candidate, Fakhir Nashat Ghumman, mainly relied apparently on the party’s popular vote bank.
Arshad Javed Warraich whose demise led to the seat falling vacant had won the Sambrial seat in the last four consecutive elections and he had developed a sizable personal vote bank that also paid dividends to his daughter Hina.
Hina Warraich was earlier elected as chairperson Sialkot District Council back in 2016 and after her father’s death, the PML-N selected her as the candidate for the by-poll in PP-52.
Keeping in view the by-election strategy of the ruling party, it has always fielded its candidate from the immediate family members of the deceased lawmaker and this strategy has been mostly successful.
On the other hand, the PTI nominated Fakhir Nashat Ghuman who was the aspirant in February 2024 general election too. However, a former PTI councillor from Sambrial city said Mr Ghuman could not keep a coordination with his voters since the general election.
Sources in the PTI said that a senior party leader in Central Punjab had admitted in his close circles that the party’s selection of candidate proved wrong as former MPA Azeem Noori Ghuman, who had also applied for the PTI ticket, could have been a better option for having a large personal vote bank in the constituency as compared to Fakhir Nashat.
PPP candidate Raheel Kamran Cheema could not bag an impressive size of votes but he and his party carried out an aggressive campaign. Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, also the PPP Central Punjab president, actively participated in the campaign. However, the PPP bagged at least 5,000 more votes (6,852) this time compared to 1,889 votes in the general election.
As per the unofficial results, the PML-N secured 78,702 votes compared to 58,385 votes in 2024 and PTI got 39,058 votes compared to 49,850 in 2024 whereas the voters’ turnout in 2024 was at 50.05 percent and it remained at 44 percent in the by-poll.
The containers that were placed around the office of returning officer were removed on Monday as life turned normal at the assistant commissioner complex where officials of the election commission and the local administration remained busy in packing and shifting the ballots and other material to the exchequer. The bags carrying election material were shifted to the strong room of the regional election commissioner office in Gujranwala as per the standard operating procedure.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Hassan Bilal Ahmed, the main election agent of the PTI candidate, has filed a complaint with the RO office regarding the misconduct and violation of election rules by the police and other officials at 10 polling stations out of total 185 polling stations.
The senior PTI leadership blamed the authorities of massive rigging in the by-election while the PML N denied the allegations.
Hina Arshad Warraich said she had contested the by-poll with a passion to retain her late father’s seat and she had mobilised the women and youth to come out and poll their votes in her favour as she mainly relied on holding corner meetings for interaction with her voters instead of opting for big rallies.
Talking to Dawn, she said she was grateful to the party chief Mian Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for trusting her.
The local analysts say that the regional PML-N leaders like former MNA Rana Shamim, ‘Viryo group’ and others also played a pivotal role in the victory of their party.
Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2025
