Polling is currently under way in two Punjab constituencies — NA-77 and PP-203 — where by-elections are being held today, DawnNewsTV has reported.

NA-77 fell vacant following the death of five-time MNA Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk on September 11 after a prolonged illness. His son, Rashid Basheer Virk, is among the candidates contesting the by-election.

Rashid and 17 other candidates have filed nomination papers to contest the constituency, but opposition parties, including the PTI, PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), have not opted for the by-election.

On Saturday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also took notice of an alleged violation of the Code of Conduct by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar during by-election campaigning in NA-77.

According to the ECP, the minister visited the constituency by helicopter and addressed a campaign event for Rashid.

This violates a provision in the Code of Conduct, which bars public office holders, including federal ministers, from participating in campaign activities.

The commission has sought a report from the district monitoring officer and the district returning officer to inquire into the matter. It has also directed the minister to appear before the commission in person.

The ECP also said that the result of the constituency could be withheld until a final decision is made on the matter.

Meanwhile, the by-poll in PP-203 is being held following the death of PML-N MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jutt. This is the second time that the by-election is being held in the constituency after the 2024 general elections.

The seat was initially won by independent candidate Rai Murtaza Iqbal, backed by the PTI, with 55,874 votes against Jutt, who polled 35,163 votes.

However, Iqbal, along with four other PTI-backed parliamentarians, was disqualified and denotified by the ECP following their conviction by an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad on July 31.

Subsequently, the ECP scheduled a by-election for Nov 23, 2025, which was won by Jutt with 46,820 votes. His closest rival, independent candidate Falik Sher, secured 10,975 votes.

Jutt died of cardiac arrest on Sept 17, 2026, necessitating another by-election in the constituency.

Around 1,370 polling personnel, including 574 women and 796 men, have been deputed at 185 polling stations for the by-election in PP-203.

District Police Officer Usman Tipu said 1,100 personnel had been deployed to ensure security during the by-election.

A total of 185 polling stations have been established in the constituency, including 11 in Category A, 37 in Category B and 137 in Category C.

A comprehensive traffic management plan has also been devised, with more than 65 personnel assigned duties.