Female voters waiting to cast their votes. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD/ BALOCHISTAN: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday failed to improve its majority in the National Assembly, losing three of the seven seats it had vacated after the July 25 general elections. Before the by-elections, the PTI and allies had a 176-seat majority in the 340-strong house.
Conversely, the PML-N managed to bag four seats in the lower house of parliament against just one it had abandoned after the general elections.
Of the 11 National Assembly seats up for grabs in the by-elections, the PML-Q won two seats and the MMA, one.
The polling was also held on 24 provincial assembly seats and remained largely peaceful. The turnout, however, remained low.
Even though a tough contest was witnessed between the PTI and the PML-N on a number of seats, the focus remained on the four seats vacated by Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had retained his Mianwali seat after the general elections.
Except for NA-53 (Islamabad) and NA-243 (Karachi), the PTI lost the remaining two seats – NA-131 (Lahore-IX) and NA-35 (Bannu) to PML-N's Saad Rafique and MMA's Zahid Akram Durrani, respectively.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also returned victorious from NA-124 (Lahore-II).
Most of the seats were vacated by those elected on more than one seat in the July 25 general elections, including PM Imran who won in all the five NA constituencies he had contested.
Political experts termed the PTI's defeat the result of some of its unpopular decisions like a phenomenal increase in gas prices, approaching the IMF for a bailout package despite vowing to break the begging bowl, etc.
A total of 370 candidates were in the run — 120 for 11 NA seats (eight in Punjab, and one each in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Islamabad) and 250 for 24 provincial assembly seats (11 in Punjab, nine in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and two each in Sindh and Balochistan).
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI won five provincial assembly seats with the ANP winning three and the PML-N one seat.
In Sindh, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party won both the Sindh Assembly seats -- PS-30 and PS-87 -- by comfortable margins.
According to incomplete and unofficial results, PTI's Alamgir, who was contesting from NA-243 bagged around 35,700 votes defeating MQM's Amir Waliuddin Chisiti who could win 15,000 votes.
In PS 87 (Malir), PPP's Sajjid Jokhio secured 25,837 votes against PTI's 12,000. The seat was lying vacant after the death of TLP candidate before the General election.
In PS-30 (Khairpur) PPP's Ahmed Raza Jilani defeated GDA's Syed Muharram Ali Shah Bukhari.
According to official results of PB-40 Khuzdar, Balochistan National Party-Mengal candidate Akbar Mengal won with 23,905 votes, while Jhalawan Panel candidate Shafiqur Rehman came in second with 14,056 votes. Ninety-eight polling stations had been set up in the constituency.
An interesting contest was witnessed on the NA seat where Khawaja Saad Rafique was contesting election. Despite a weak PTI candidate and having the support of the Pakistan People Party, Rafique only managed to get 10,200 more votes than PTI's Hamyuin Akhtar Khan.
The former railways minister managed to bag 60,352 whereas PTI's Akhtar got 50,155, according to the unofficial results.
To PML-N's victory was all the more ominous after the local leadership did not extend its complete support to the new entrant in the PTI, who is famous for switching loyalties.
Despite all the odds staked against the PTI candidate, the party still gave a tough fight in the constituency.
Rafique, during his victory speech, said the decision of the public cannot be easily overturned.
He said the voice of the public, the media and opposition should be heard by the government.
He said he was surprised at the vindictive approach of the prime minister. He said the government should have sat down with the opposition for a better future of the country. He said the government should immediately release Shehbaz Sharif, Hanif Abbasi and Qamar Ul Aslam who he termed political prisoners.
With additional input from Rameez Khan in Lahore and Hafeez Tunio in Karachi.
Islamabad Capital Territory - Results
NA-53 Islamabad II
[jtrt_tables id="1825039"]
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa constituencies - Results
NA-35 Bannu
[jtrt_tables id="1825013"]
PK-3 Swat II
[jtrt_tables id="1825012"]
PK-7 Swat VI
[jtrt_tables id="1825014"]
PK-44 Swabi II
[jtrt_tables id="1825015"]
PK-53 Mardan VI
[jtrt_tables id="1825016"]
PK-61 Nowshera I
[jtrt_tables id="1825017"]
PK-64 Nowshera IV
[jtrt_tables id="1825020"]
PK-71 Peshawar VI
[jtrt_tables id="1825023"]
PK-78 Peshawar XIII
[jtrt_tables id="1825019"]
PK-99 DI Khan V
[jtrt_tables id="1825022"]
PK-97 Dera Ismail Khan III
[jtrt_tables id="1825021"]
Punjab constituencies - Results
NA-56 Attock II
[jtrt_tables id="1825040"]
NA-60 Rawalpindi IV
[jtrt_tables id="1825042"]
NA-63 Rawalpindi VII
[jtrt_tables id="1825043"]
NA-65 Chakwal II
[jtrt_tables id="1825046"]
NA-69 Gujrat II
[jtrt_tables id="1825045"]
NA-103 Faisalabad III
[jtrt_tables id="1825051"]
NA-124 Lahore II
[jtrt_tables id="1825052"]
NA-131 Lahore IX
[jtrt_tables id="1825053"]
PP-3 Attock III
[jtrt_tables id="1825024"]
PP-27 Jhelum III
[jtrt_tables id="1825025"]
PP-87 Mianwali III
[jtrt_tables id="1825027"]
PP-103 Faisalabad VII
[jtrt_tables id="1825029"]
PP-118 Toba Tek Singh I
[jtrt_tables id="1825028"]
PP-164 Lahore XXI
[jtrt_tables id="1825030"]
PP-165 Lahore XXII
[jtrt_tables id="1825032"]
PP-201 Sahiwal VI
[jtrt_tables id="1825031"]
PP-222 Multan XII
[jtrt_tables id="1825033"]
PP-261 Rahim Yar Khan VII
[jtrt_tables id="1825035"]
PP-272 Muzaffargarh V
[jtrt_tables id="1825034"]
PP-292 DG Khan VIII
[jtrt_tables id="1825037"]
Balochistan constituencies - Results
PB-35 Mastung
[jtrt_tables id="1824999"]
PB-40 Khuzdar III
[jtrt_tables id="1825000"]
Sindh constituencies - Results
NA-243 Karachi East II
[jtrt_tables id="1825008"]
PS-30 Khairpur V
[jtrt_tables id="1825001"]
PS-87 Malir I
[jtrt_tables id="1825003"]
End of Live updates
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA
A total of 57 candidates are contesting the Sunday’s by-polls, according to the ECP data. A total 2,029,963 voters have been registered, which include 878474 female voters. The ECP has formed 1,555 polling stations which have 5,007 polling booths. The ECP has declared 544 polling stations as sensitive.
A help desk to deal with issues and problems faced by women and differently-abled voters has also been established in the office of provincial election commissioner K-P.
Polling began at 117 polling stations of PK-78 of Peshawar.
PHOTO: EXPRESSAwami National Party's (ANP) Sama Haroon Bilour and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Muhammad Irfan are contesting for the seat.
Bilour’s widow, Samar Haroon Bilour is being supported by the political parties in the joint opposition alliance.
The July 25 polls were cancelled in PK-78 due to a terrorist attack prior to the polls, killing ANP candidate Haroon Bilour.
PHOTO: EXPRESS 
PHOTO: EXPRESS
About 2,000 security personnel have been deployed to provide security in the constituency. While 35 polling stations have been declared as extremely sensitive and 82 have been declared as sensitive.
PHOTO: EXPRESSA total of 63 polling stations are specified for male voters, and 53 polling stations are specified for female voters. One polling station is for both males and females jointly.
In comparison to the July 25 general elections, the voter turnout seems to be weak.
PHOTO: EXPRESSEalier, polling could not start in Zargar abad area after the voter list omitted at least 900 voters. The voter list carried details of only 500 registered voters, while there are some 1400 voters registered in the area
After hours-long delay, voting process was finally resumed.
PHOTO: EXPRESSSpeaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has cast his vote at Marghuz, in his constituency PK-44 (Swabi).
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser’s brother Aqibullah Khan is contesting the polls on the PTI ticket from Swabi’s PK-44 while, ANP’s Ghulam Hussain is contesting for the seat vacated by the National Assembly speaker after his victory in the general elections.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB”Voter-turnout in the by-elections is usually quite low,” said the speaker, adding that the by-elections are being held in transparent manner.
PHOTO: EXPRESSThere were also reports of a scuffle in PK-44 between polling agents of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), comprising of ANP, MMA, PPP and PML-N, against those of PTI.
PHOTO: EXPRESSBy-elections in Nowshera saw a low turnout of female voters turnout in PK 61 and PK 64, as women were barred from voting in various polling stations. Women were prohibited from voting at Government primary school Zarra Miyana polling station.
Voting process could also not begin due to the absence of ANP polling agents in Banda Shaikh Ismail PK-64.
Polling staff was present in Misri Banda PK 61, yet female voters were prohibited from voting.
ECP has taken notice of female voters not being allowed to cast their votes.
According to the ECP spokesperson, negotiations are being held with local elders to allow women to cast their votes in Zarha Maina area of district Nowshera.
According to Nowshera district administration, religious scholars have encouraged women to vote in the elections. “There were announcements from mosques encouraging women to go out and vote.”
District Commissioner Nowshera said that there was no agreement in written prohibiting women from voting and hoped women will be showing up at their respective polling stations to cast their votes.
PUNJAB
In Lahore, NA-124, NA-131 and PP-164 and PP-165 constituencies are up for grab.
PHOTO: TWITTER/@InsafPKSaad Rafique of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Humayun Akhtar of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are vying for NA-131 seat while PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and PTI’s Ghulam Mohiuddin compete for NA-124 seat.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz arrived at NA-124 polling station to cast their vote. However, Sharif was unable to cast his vote as he forgot to bring his CNIC.
EXPRESS SCREENGRABA First Information Report (FIR) has also been registered against PTI candidate Ghulam Mohiuddin Dewan, contesting against former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of PML-N from NA-124 (Lahore II).
Dewan violated the electoral code of conduct by displaying weapons during an election meeting in Lahore on October 10.
[fbpost link=" https://www.facebook.com/etribune/videos/2036422953315988/"]
Humayun Akhtar visiting polling stations and talking to Media in the context of the arrangements on Polling day. PHOTO: TWITTER @InsafPKPTI’s Muhammad Yousuf stands against PML-N’s Sohail Shaukat Butt in Punjab Assembly’s PP-164 constituency while PML-N’s Saiful Malook is facing PTI’s Mansha Sindhu in PP-165 constituency. At least 11, 75,832 voters are expecting cast votes for the four seats for which 12, 14,000 ballot papers have been printed.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has also cast his vote in NA-53 constituency in Islamabad.
Prime Minister Imran Khan casted his vote for By-Election in NA 53 Islamabad. #BallayPeThappa pic.twitter.com/BFawyCc3Cb
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 14, 2018
BALOCHISTAN
Polling process has started in Balochistan's PB-40 (Khuzdar III) and-PB 35 (Mustung) constituencies.
Fierce competition expected between Balochistan National Party-Mengal’s (BNP-M) Akbar Mengal and Jhalawan Awami Party's (JAP) Mir Shafiqur Rehman in PB-40.
All polling stations in PB-40 have been declared sensitive.
Close competition expected in PB-35 Mastung between independent candidate Nawab Aslam Raisani, National Party’s (NP) Sardar Kamal Khan Bangalzai and Balochistan Awami Party’s (BAP) Sardar Noor Ahmed Bangalzai.
PB 35 has a total of 107188 registered voters, with 62403 male voters and 44785 female voters.
PB 40 has a total of 76213 registered voters, with 44536 male voters and 31677 female voters.
Highly sensitive polling stations are being monitored through CCTV surveillance, while army and police officials have been stationed inside and outside the polling stations.
SINDH
By-elections for NA-243 (East-II) Karachi and PS-87 (Malir) are underway. The former fell vacant after Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had won five National Assembly seats, resigned.
Elections on the latter were postponed due to the death of Mohammad Sharif, the candidate for Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
The PTI has now allotted this seat to Alamgir Khan of Fix-it fame – a social activist who has amassed a following due to his campaign on various civic issues.
[fbpost link=" https://www.facebook.com/etribune/videos/159254181690630/"]
Addressing the media after casting his vote, PTI candidate Alamgir said, “The people have always supported me for Fix-it and they have been there when I went out on the roads for the social cause and also when I went to jail.” He also urged the voters to go out and vote by saying:“Today is a chance to overturn the history of Karachi.”
Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Aamir Waliuddin Chisti, Pak Sarzameen Party’s (PSP) Syed Asif Hasnain, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Hakim Ali and TLP’s Syed Nawazul Huda are also vying for victory on NA-243 seat.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has, meanwhile, announced to support the PPP’s candidates and withdrew its candidate, Sharfat Ali, from contesting the by-poll.
IN A FIRST, PAKISTANI EXPATS VOTE IN BY-POLLS
Overseas Pakistanis for the first in the country’s history are casting their votes in the by-elections. According to the ECP, as much as 7,364 expatriates are registered to vote.
Just cast my vote for #NA65 via i voting online from UAE.
— 𝑺𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒒𝒂𝒕 𝑯𝒖𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒏 (@sadaqathnoor) October 14, 2018
Thank you PM @ImranKhanPTI for giving us this opportunity. #ByElections pic.twitter.com/CeEqeAnK6v
https://twitter.com/Karachi_Waala/status/1051323922447257602
Voted!! | @PTIofficial #NA53 #ByElections #ByElectionNA53 | pic.twitter.com/81smTUmqSs
— Kulsoom Ali Syed (@kasyed) October 14, 2018
5,601 overseas Pakistani voters have so far cast their vote through I-voting.
On Saturday, the ECP established a control room for overseas voters for the by-elections.
According to an ECP official, all those overseas Pakistanis who did not receive their voting passport may contact the control room on 0092512778899.
Party positions after July General Elections
General Elections 2018
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