LAHORE: The ruling PML-N retained Gujranwala’s National Assembly constituency NA-77 and Sahiwal’s Punjab Assembly constituency PP-203 in Sunday’s by-election.

Both seats had fallen vacant after the deaths of their respective lawmakers in September. Polling in the constituencies began at 8am and concluded at 5pm, with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reporting an uninterrupted and largely peaceful process.

In NA-77, PML-N candidate Rashid Basheer Virk was among 11 candidates contesting for the seat left vacant after the Sept 11 demise of his father, Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk, a five-time MNA.

He secured victory by bagging 43,365 votes, while Pakistan Markazi Muslim League’s (PMML) Mohammad Ibrahim remained runner-up with 30,218 ballots, according to the Form-47 seen by Dawn.

Form-47 is the provisional consolidated statement of results of the vote count of all polling stations in a constituency, prepared by the returning officer (RO) concerned.

In PP-203 of Chichawatni, PML-N’s Muhammad Asad Hanif Jutt won with 42,114 votes, defeating his closest rival, Muhammad Awais Mahmood of Tehreek-i-Ehsas Pakistan (TEP), who secured 24,512 votes, according to its Form-47.

Both by-elections were marked by a low voter turnout, with 15.7 per cent in NA-77 and 27.6pc recorded in PP-203, according to Forms 47.

The by-poll was held following the death of PML-N MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jutt. This was the second time that a by-election was held in the constituency after the 2024 general elections.

Notices were also issued to several PML-N lawmakers for alleged violations of the election code, mostly over visiting polling stations in the two constituencies.

Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja visited the provincial election chief’s office, where he was briefed on the polling process in both constituencies, ECP said.

After the balloting process concluded, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, whose PML-N is in power in the province, made multiple posts on X, claiming her party was in the lead in both NA-77 and PP-203.

In one post, CM Maryam wrote, “This electoral victory is no ordinary victory. It is a resounding public rebuke to conspiracy peddlers, hate mongers and those who refuse to read the writing on the wall.”

She contended that the results portrayed that the “politics of delivery is far more enduring than the politics of hate and revenge”.

“I am glad politics has returned to delivery and performance. Wake up and smell the coffee… or keep sleeping in denial!” the PML-N leader added.

Notices over alleged electoral conduct violations

While the polling was under way, notices, copies of which are available with Dawn, were issued to Punjab MPA Qudsia Batool, MNA Saira Afzal Tarar and Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Shazia Rizwan for alleged violation of the Code of Conduct after reports emerged on social media that the three had visited various polling stations within NA-77, a statement issued by the office of the provincial election commissioner said.

Notices were also issued over alleged violations of the Code of Conduct to PML-N’s MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar and MPA Hina Arshad Warraich for allegedly visiting polling stations.

The officials were directed to appear at the Election Complex in Gujranwala for an explanation at 3pm.

Separately, PML-N leader and Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari claimed in a post on X that supporters of PMML candidate Qazi Ibrahim Gujjar were caught “openly stamping ballots” with the election commission staff present.

Acting on the complaint, the provincial election commissioner said the returning officer concerned has been directed to probe the matter and submit a report.

On Saturday, the ECP took notice of an alleged violation of the Code of Conduct by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar during by-election campaigning in NA-77.

According to a cause list issued on Sunday, Tarar, along with Virk, Batool and others, has been summoned to appear at the next hearing on Nov 12.

According to the ECP, the minister visited the constituency by helicopter and addressed a campaign event for Rashid, violating a provision in the Code of Conduct, which bars public office holders from participating in campaign activities.

ECP has sought a report from the district monitoring officer and the district returning officer to inquire into the matter. The watchdog also said that the result of the constituency could be withheld until a final decision is made on the matter.

Meanwhile, notices were also issued to PML-N MPAs Malik Qasim Nadeem and Motiya Begum for allegedly visiting several polling stations in Chichawatni’s PP-203 on the polling day.

The notices issued by the district monitoring officer, seen by Dawn, accused both of violating Para 48 of the Code of Conduct, which bars “all kinds of campaigns” and canvassing within a 400-metre radius of a polling station.

The MPAs were asked to appear either in person or through counsel at the Municipal Committee Office at 5pm on Nov 9 (Monday) to clarify their position.

Polling in PP-203

The seat was initially won in 2024 by independent candidate Rai Murtaza Iqbal, backed by the PTI, with 55,874 votes against Jutt, who polled 35,163 votes.

However, Iqbal, along with four other PTI-backed parliamentarians, was disqualified and denotified by the ECP following their conviction by an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad on July 31.

Subsequently, the ECP scheduled a by-election for Nov 23, 2025, which was won by Jutt with 46,820 votes. His closest rival, independent candidate Falik Sher, secured 10,975 votes.

Jutt died of cardiac arrest on Sept 17 this year, necessitating Sunday’s by-election in the constituency.

Around 1,370 polling personnel, including 574 women and 796 men, were deputed at 185 polling stations across the constituency.

District Police Officer Usman Tipu said 1,100 personnel had been deployed to ensure security during the by-election.

A total of 185 polling stations had been established in the constituency, including 11 in Category A, 37 in Category B and 137 in Category C.

A comprehensive traffic management plan had also been devised, with more than 65 personnel assigned duties.