BAHAWALPUR: After the National Assembly constituency NA-168 (Bahawalpur) fell vacant after the death of Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, a number of local aspirants are preparing to contest the by-election in the coming months.

According to Bahawalpur District Election Commissioner Tanveer Khan, the NA secretariat had issued a notification declaring NA-168 vacant and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would hold the by-election in this constituency within a period of 60 days.

He said the ECP was expected to issue the election schedule soon.

Dawn has learnt that office-bearers of all political parties, particularly those belonging to the four mainstream political parties, have started lobbying with their respective parties to obtain party tickets. However, no political party has invited applications for party tickets from their prospective candidates yet.

Seat fell vacant after the death of MNA Iqbal Channar

From the ruling PML-N, late Iqbal Channar’s second son former deputy mayor Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, former Punjab governor Baleegh-ur-Rehman, former senator Saood Majid Chaudhury and former MC mayor Aqeel Najam Hashmi could be potential applicants for the party ticket. Among them,local PML-N circles claim that Mr Rehman and Mr Chaudhury were considered close to PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif and Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz respectively. Moreover, Mr Hashmi was also considered close to the chief minister as he enjoyed full support of the then PML-N government during the last local government elections.

From other parties, from PPP Syed Tathear-ul-Hassan Tirmizi and retired secretary Hussain Ahmed Madni, from PTI former MPA and defeated NA candidates in 2024 election Samiullah Chaudhury and Asghar Joyia, JUI’s (Mufti group) Safdar Shehbaz Rajput and JI’s South Punjab Emir from Bahawalpur Syed Zeeshan Akhtar could be probable candidates from their parties for the by-election.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2026