PML-N MNA Hamza Shahbaz addressing a public gathering after the victory of PML-N candidate Pervaiz Malik for NA-123 constituency by-elections. - Photo by APP.

LAHORE, March 10 The Pakistan Muslim League-N won the by-polls for NA-123 in Lahore and PP-82 in Jhang, while PML-Z secured PP-284 in Bahawalnagar after polling for the three seats was completed in a peaceful manner on Wednesday.

Although PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had replaced himself with Pervaiz Malik for the NA seat in Lahore, the electoral fight proved to be one-sided and Mr Malik returned successful with a lead of over 30,000. In the 2008 general elections, the same party's Javed Hashmi had won with a margin of 50,000.

To the astonishment of many, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf's Hamid Meraj stood second by securing about 10,000 votes while Jamaat-i-Islami's Hafiz Salman Butt could hardly cross the figure of 3,000. The PML-Q had announced its support for Mr Butt while some PPP activists also voted for him.

The PPP had not fielded its own candidate for NA-123.

There was a tough contest in Jhang, where a controversy between Governor Salman Taseer and the Punjab government had erupted on wooing a banned group for support in the by-polls.

At least 12 federal and provincial ministers of the PPP had encamped in the central Punjab district for the past couple of days canvassing for the party's nominee, Ghazanfar Jaboana. The PML-N's Azam Chaela returned successful by bagging over 42,000 votes as Jaboana could claim around 32,000 ballots.

In PP-284, Shahid Anjum of the PML-Zia defeated PPP's Kashif Naveed by securing over 35,000 votes against 16,000 of the latter.

The PML-N did not field its candidate for the constituency declared vacant after disqualification of PPP's Rauf Jatt.