The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has retained both the NA-77 National Assembly constituency in Gujranwala and the PP-203 Punjab Assembly seat in Sahiwal in Sunday’s by-elections, according to unofficial results. PML-N candidates Rashid Basheer Virk and Muhammad Asad Hanif Jutt won their respective contests, while voter turnout remained relatively low in both constituencies.
In NA-77, Rashid Basheer Virk secured 43,365 votes, defeating Pakistan Markazi Muslim League candidate Muhammad Ibrahim, who received 30,218 votes. Virk contested the seat previously held by his father, five-time MNA Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk, who died on September 11.
In PP-203, PML-N candidate Muhammad Asad Hanif Jutt won with 42,114 votes, while his rival Muhammad Awais Mahmood of Tehreek-i-Ehsas Pakistan secured 24,512 votes. The seat became vacant following the death of Hanif Jutt, who died of cardiac arrest on September 17.
Polling began at 8am and continued until 5pm. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) described the process as largely peaceful and uninterrupted. However, provisional results showed voter turnout of 15.7 per cent in NA-77 and 27.6 per cent in PP-203.
Following the results, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz celebrated the PML-N victories in posts on X. She described the outcome as a rejection of what she called the politics of hatred, revenge and conspiracy, and said performance and public service carried greater political value than confrontation. These remarks reflected her response to the election results.
The by-elections also drew attention to alleged violations of the ECP’s Code of Conduct. The commission issued notices to several PML-N lawmakers and public representatives over their alleged visits to polling stations during voting. Those served notices in NA-77 included Punjab MPA Qudsia Batool, MNA Saira Afzal Tarar and Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Shazia Rizwan. Similar notices were issued to PML-N MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar and MPA Hina Arshad Warraich.
In PP-203, PML-N MPAs Malik Qasim Nadeem and Motiya Begum also received notices over alleged visits to polling stations. The ECP maintains that campaigning and canvassing are prohibited within 400 metres of polling stations on election day. The officials concerned were directed to explain their positions before the relevant election authorities.
Separately, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari alleged that supporters of PMML candidate Qazi Ibrahim Gujjar had been caught stamping ballot papers in the presence of election staff. The provincial election commissioner directed the relevant returning officer to investigate the complaint and submit a report.
The ECP had also taken notice of Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s alleged participation in the NA-77 election campaign. According to the commission, Tarar travelled to the constituency by helicopter and addressed a campaign gathering in support of Rashid Basheer Virk. Public office holders are barred from participating in election campaigns under the ECP’s Code of Conduct.
Tarar, Virk, Batool and other individuals have been summoned for a hearing on November 12. The commission has also sought reports from relevant election officials and warned that the NA-77 result could be withheld until a final decision is reached on the alleged violations.
The PP-203 constituency has experienced several electoral developments since the 2024 general elections. PTI-backed independent candidate Rai Murtaza Iqbal initially won the seat in 2024 with 55,874 votes, defeating Asad Hanif Jutt, who received 35,163 votes. Iqbal was subsequently disqualified and denotified along with four other PTI-backed lawmakers following their convictions by an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad on July 31.
Jutt later won the November 2025 by-election with 46,820 votes, defeating independent candidate Falik Sher, who secured 10,975 votes. Following Jutt’s death in September 2026, another by-election was held to fill the vacancy.
For the latest polling exercise, authorities established 185 polling stations and deployed around 1,370 polling personnel, including 574 women and 796 men. District Police Officer Usman Tipu said 1,100 police personnel had been assigned security duties to maintain order during polling.
With unofficial results showing PML-N victories in both constituencies, attention now turns to the ECP proceedings over alleged electoral code violations. The commission’s hearing and any subsequent decisions will determine the outcome of the complaints concerning the election process.
