LAHORE: The ruling PML-N appeared set to retain both seats in Sunday’s Punjab by-elections, with unofficial results confirming its victory in provincial assembly constituency PP-203, Chichawatni, and National Assembly constituency NA-77, Gujranwala.
The by-elections were marked by low voter turnout, a complete polling boycott in one Gujranwala village and the issuance of explanation notices to five PML-N women lawmakers over alleged violations of the election code of conduct.
In PP-203, PML-N candidate Muhammad Asad Hanif Jutt won with 41,912 votes, defeating his closest rival, Muhammad Awais Mahmood of Tehreek-i-Ehsas Pakistan (TEP), who secured 25,106 votes, according to unofficial results announced by Returning Officer Khudadad Tarar. The victory margin was 16,806 votes, while voter turnout stood at 27.6 per cent.
If he is declared successful, this would be PML-N’s second successful outing in the constituency since the 2024 general elections.
The seat was initially won by independent PTI-backed candidate Rai Murtaza Iqbal, defeating PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jutt.
Mr Iqbal and four other PTI-backed lawmakers were subsequently disqualified and de-notified following their conviction by an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad on July 31. A by-election held on Nov 23, 2025, was won by Mr Jutt.
However, after he died of cardiac arrest on Sept 17, his party fielded Muhammad Asad Hanif Jutt, identified by local sources as a nephew of the deceased lawmaker, to fill his seat.
In NA-77, PML-N candidate Rashid Bashir Virk secured 43,365 votes, according to unofficial results from the constituency’s 333 polling stations.
His rival, Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) candidate Muhammad Ibrahim Gujjar, bagged 30,218 votes. However, major opposition parties, including the PTI, PPP and JI did not field any candidates. Voter turnout stood at 15.6pc.
Polling in both constituencies began at 8am and concluded at 5pm.
The NA-77 seat had fallen vacant following the death of five-time PML-N MNA Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk on Sept 11 after a prolonged illness. His son, Rashid Bashir Virk, was nominated by the party to contest the by-election. Qazi Ibrahim Gujjar of the PMML, Ulfat Rasool Warraich and other candidates were also in the field.
An unusual protest marked polling in Chak Beig, the native village of PTI-backed MPA Nasir Cheema, where not a single voter out of 1,153 registered voters turned up to cast a ballot.
Some residents told journalists that they had stayed away from polling because the main access road to their village had remained unconstructed for years and the area had allegedly been neglected in government development schemes.
Announcements were also reportedly made through mosque loudspeakers, urging residents to boycott the election in protest against what they described as persistent neglect by the authorities and elected representatives.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz have separately congratulated PML-N candidates on their victories in the National Assembly and provincial assembly by-elections.
In his message, the prime minister said the public’s support in the by-election reflected their strong confidence in the PML-N leadership and the government’s policies.
He said voters had expressed confidence in the party’s agenda of development, prosperity and public service.
He added that the victory was the result of the collective efforts of the PML-N leadership and workers.
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz said the victories of Rashid Bashir Virk and Asad Hanif Jutt reflected the PML-N’s popularity and public confidence in the party.
She said the people of Gujranwala and Chichawatni had voted in favour of the PML-N, endorsing its politics of public service.
ECP issues notices
Meanwhile, the ECP issued explanation notices to five PML-N women lawmakers over alleged violations of its code of conduct.
Those served notices included MNA Saira Afzal Tarar, MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, MPAs Hina Arshad Warraich and Qudsia Batool, and Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Shazia Rizwan.
Earlier, the ECP had also taken notice of Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s participation in election campaigning in NA-77.
It also warned that the constituency’s result could be withheld pending a final decision on the matter.
Another controversy emerged after Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari alleged on social media that supporters of PMML candidate Qazi Ibrahim Gujjar had openly stamped ballot papers in the presence of election staff.
Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2026
