Counting of votes underway on by-polls in 21 national and provincial seats
Counting of votes is underway for 21 national and provincial seats after polling concluded amid the temporary suspension of cellular services in specific districts of Punjab and Balochistan to “safeguard” the electoral process.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), by-elections were held today on five vacant seats of the National Assembly; 12 of the Punjab Assembly, and two each of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan legislatures.
Separately, re-polling in all constituencies of Balochistan’s PB-50 (Qila Abdullah) was also held today.
Polling began at 8am and concluded at 5pm, following which the vote counting began, with unconfirmed and unofficial results awaited.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had announced a day earlier that “cellular services will be temporarily suspended in specific districts of Punjab and Balochistan during the by-elections” on April 21 (today) and 22 (Monday).
It said the decision had been taken on the directives of the interior ministry to “safeguard the integrity and security of the electoral process”.
It should be mentioned that mobile and internet services were also shut down during the February 8 general elections. Meanwhile, access to social media platform X has been disrupted since Feb 17 — when the former Rawalpindi commissioner accused the chief election commissioner and chief justice of Pakistan of being involved in rigging.
Iqbal condemns ‘murder’ of party worker in Narowal
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal condemned the “murder”“ of a PML-N worker in Narowal during the byelections.
While speaking to the media, Iqbal accused PTI workers of his party worker’s death. “The murderers would not be spared from the law,” he said adding that he would call the deceased a “political martyr”.
“He stood for the right cause, for which he was killed,” he added.
The ECP took notice of the incident and said that a formal investigation will be conducted outside Narowal’s Zafarwal polling station.
“Regional Election Commissioner Gujranwala has been appointed the inquiry officer for the probe,” an ECP spokesperson said.
The ECP also took notice of a presiding officer signing a blank form 45 in Punjab Assembly’s PP-149 Lahore constituency, it said in a press release on its wesbite.
The commission has sought an immediate report from the Election Commissioner Punjab so that this matter can be resolved and the commission can take further legal action.
Sporadic violence elsewhere
In Sheikhupura’s PP-139, the polling process was temporarily stopped after a “firing incident”.
In a statement, the Punjab election commissioner’s office said that due to a “firing incident” at a polling station (Government Primary School Nizampura), the polling process had been stopped.
However, it had later resumed after the police controlled the situation, the statement added.
In Lahore, at polling station number 171 (Lahore College), workers of the PTI and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) coalition had a scuffle with those of the PML-N on the issue of setting up polling camps. The argument was then resolved with the help of police.
The provincial election commission’s control room also took notice of reports of the polling process in Gujrat and Rahim Yar Khan’s PP-266 stopping.
In a separate statement, the spokesperson said that the police controlled the situation at the polling station in question in Gujrat.
It added that a scuffle in Rahim Yar Khan took place outside a polling station at Mohib Shah.
Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party’s (IPP’s) Shoaib Siddiqui claimed there were reports of a face-off in Union Council 184.
Separately, SIC’s Mian Shahzad Farooq claimed that his party workers were being arrested in NA-119 and that the polling agent had been forced out of the returning officer’s office after he went there to file a complaint.
Across Lahore, 24 superintendents, 45 senior deputy police officers (SDPOs) and 168 inspectors, station house officers (SHOs), and investigation in-charges will serve their duties during the by-elections.
A total of 195 pickets were established at Lahore’s entry and exit points while the security was on “high alert”.
Lahore Capital City Police Chief (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana said the security officials were providing “complete security for the peaceful conduct” of the by-election.
In a statement, the CCPO emphasised there was “zero-tolerance” for exhibition of arms and firing incidents.
He highlighted that voters would be able to enter the polling stations after getting clearance from the three-tier security arrangement.
CCPO Kamyana further said that officials of anti-riot force and reserve forces would remain alert to deal with any untoward incident.
In Bhakkar’s PP-93, District Police Officer (DPO) Mohammad Naveed visited “sensitive” polling stations of the area.
Bhakkar District Superintendent of Police (DSP) special branch Malik Tariq Awan and troops of the Pakistan Army also accompanied the DPO during the visits and gave a briefing to the officials on duty.
DPO Naveed ordered the officials to put all resources to use to ensure peaceful polling process.
In Sindh, by-elections were held in Kambar-Shahdadkot’s NA-196, where PPP’s Khurshid Junejo was contesting against Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) Mohammad Ali.
Sindh Election Commissioner Sharifullah directed officials to remain alert to ensure clear, transparent and peaceful polls, urging the public to use their right to vote.
