MULTAN: According to unofficial results announced by returning officers after the by-poll in Multan's PP-196 constituency, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Rana Mahmodul Hassan was leading with 30,278 votes.

The unofficial result that comprises 133 polling stations puts Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate Rana Abdul Jabbar as the runner up with 19,321 votes. Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Mohammad Hussain Araein was at third spot, bagging 7,334 votes.

A total of 14 candidates contested the by-poll, including 10 independent candidates.

According to an election commission official in Multan, there are 176,315 registered voters in the constituency including 96,121 male and 80,194 female voters. Turnout was around 33 per cent, said the official.

The Punjab Assembly seat was vacated after PML-N's provincial minister for prisons— Abdul Waheed Araein— was disqualified for holding two CNICs.

PTI accepts defeat

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his party had accepted defeat in the PP-196 by-election with an open heart.

While talking to media personnel, he said PTI respected the masses' opinion, adding that PTI workers had not violated any code of conduct and acted on party instructions to keep the process peaceful.

But the winning candidate, alleged Qureshi, had used support of government machinery.