PESHAWAR: PML-N candidate Arbab Muhammad Waseem beat out PPP's Malik Tehmash Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's Shahzad Khan during Thursday's by-polls for Peshawar's PK-8 seat.

Results on Friday showed Arbab in the lead with 11,781 votes, followed by PPP's Khan with 10,789 votes, while the ruling party's candidate secured third position with 9,347 votes.

Malik Tehmash Khan accused the PML-N of rigging the by-poll and changing the results.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif congratulated the PML-N on the win: "Nothing better than beating the opponents... on their home ground," she said.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Arbab Akbar Khyat, who also belonged to PML-N. The elections were held amid tight security and army troops were deployed at polling stations on the request of the election commission.

The number of registered votes in PK-8 is 136,508, but the turnout remained low.

Fifteen candidates contested the by-polls from major political parties including Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Awami National Party, Pakistan People’s Party, Quami Watan Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz took part in the by-elections.

The results are considered a blow for the ruling PTI as most district councillors in the constituency belonged to the party. In the run-up to the by-polls, PTI chief Imran Khan held a rally in the area and was handed a notice by the Election Commission of Pakistan for violation of code of conduct.