“Islamabad: Polling for the by-elections on 21 seats of national and provincial assemblies, which started at 8 am, ended at 5 pm, after which the counting of votes began.
In Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, voting continued for 2 seats of the National Assembly each, and one seat in Sindh. In Punjab, voters exercised their right to vote in 12 provincial constituencies, while in KPK and Balochistan, voters cast their votes in 2 provincial constituencies each.
Who is contesting against whom?
In the vacant seat of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, NA-132 Kasur, PML-N’s Malik Rashid Ahmad Khan and Sardar Muhammad Hussain Dogar of Sunni Ittehad Council are competing. In the vacant seat of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, NA-119 Lahore, PML-N candidate Ali Pervez Malik is contesting against Sunni Ittehad Council’s Shahzad Farooq.
In the vacant seat of Punjab CM Usman Buzdar, NA-44 Dera Ghazi Khan, an interesting competition is expected between independent candidate Faisal Amin Gandapur and Abdul Rashid Kundi of the PPP.
Internet and mobile phone services:
During the by-elections in 5 constituencies of Lahore, internet services are affected in various areas. The disruption of internet services is causing difficulties for the citizens.
PTI says that in light of the instructions of the Interior Ministry, mobile phone services will remain suspended in some districts of Balochistan and Punjab on April 21 and 22. This decision has been taken to ensure smooth and transparent completion of the electoral process.
Electoral constituencies:
By-elections were held today in 5 National Assembly and 16 Provincial Assembly constituencies across the country. Voting took place for by-elections in NA-119 Lahore and NA-132 Kasur in Punjab; voting also took place in PP-193, 93, 54, 36, 32, 22 constituencies. Voting also occurred in PP-290, 266, 164, 158, 149, 147 constituencies. According to the Election Commission, 2,601 polling stations have been established in Punjab.
Elections were held for 2 National and 2 Provincial Assembly seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Voting took place in NA-44 Dera Ismail Khan, NA-8 Bajaur, NA-8 and 44, and PP-22 and 91 constituencies. There are 49 candidates in the field in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the Election Commission, 892 polling stations have been set up, with 139 being sensitive.
In Sindh, there are 2 candidates in the field in NA-196 Qambar Shahdadkot constituency. There are 303 polling stations set up, with 158 being sensitive.
In Balochistan, by-elections were held in 2 provincial constituencies and re-polling in one. Voting continued for by-elections in PB-20 and 22, and re-polling took place in PB-50 Qila Abdullah. There are 354 polling stations established in Balochistan.”