LAHORE: By-elections for six National Assembly and seven Punjab Assembly constituencies are set to take place today (Sunday). The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government of using state machinery to manipulate the by-polls.
The elections will be held in the National Assembly constituencies including NA-18 Haripur, NA-96 Faisalabad, NA-104 Faisalabad, NA-129 Lahore, NA-143 Sahiwal, and NA-185 DG Khan. Additionally, the Punjab Assembly constituencies include PP-73 Sargodha, PP-87 Mianwali, PP-98 Faisalabad, PP-115 Faisalabad, PP-116 Faisalabad, PP-203 Sahiwal, and PP-269 Muzaffargarh.
Particular attention is focused on NA-129 where a contest is expected between the PTI and the PML-N. The ruling party aims to reclaim its stronghold from the PTI which is competing without its election symbol.
Over 550,000 voters in NA-129, one of 14 National Assembly constituencies in Lahore, will elect a new representative. This by-election follows the death of former Punjab Governor Mian Muhammad Azhar, a prominent politician and father of former PTI federal minister Hammad Azhar. Mian Azhar had previously won the seat with 103,739 votes, or 49 percent of the total, running as an independent candidate supported by the PTI before later aligning with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
The NA-129 seat is being contested by Chaudhry Arsalan Ahmad, Mian Azhar’s nephew, who has been nominated by Hammad Azhar. His opponent is Hafiz Mian Nauman, who is representing the PML-N. In the 2024 elections, Nauman was defeated by Mian Azhar by a margin of over 30,000 votes.
Meanwhile, the PTI has accused the PML-N’s Punjab government of employing rigging tactics to support its candidate in the NA-129 by-poll. The PTI Punjab has claimed that before the election campaign could gain momentum, local police officials were caught on video removing banners of the PTI candidate, while the party’s leaders and workers faced harassment and arrests.
On social media, PTI Punjab reported that PTI Lahore President Mian Akram Usman was arrested and taken to jail under a 20-day detention order. “Usman’s arrest is clear evidence that the fascist government anticipates its defeat in NA-129. We have never been fearful of such dirty tactics before, nor will we yield to pressure now. We stood with Khan, we stand with him, and we will always stand by him,” the PTI Punjab emphasised in a post.
Furthermore, the PTI Punjab claimed that 13 of its workers had been imprisoned for 10 days on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner of Nankana, stating that it appears the law and judicial system in the country has become paralysed.
In his social media message, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja noted that voting day in Lahore’s constituency NA-129 is November 23. “Since November 21, the reign of brutality in Punjab has surpassed the traditional cowardly oppression of this illegitimate government. Mian Akram Usman has been transferred to an unknown location following an unjust arrest. Raids and arrests continue throughout the province at the homes of our leaders,” he added.
Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Moeen Riaz Qureshi accused the Punjab government of intentionally skewing the electoral landscape in NA-129 by using state power against the PTI. He described the arrests of workers and the confiscation of campaign materials as an insult to the democratic process, stating that the Chief Minister’s office should be focused on governance, not political manipulation.
Qureshi noted that the Punjab government’s actions against the PTI workers across the province reflect an open political vendetta, with frequent raids on homes, baseless arrests, and 10-day detentions under Section 3 of the MPO becoming routine. “This is not democracy; it is a campaign to suppress opponents, lacking any constitutional, moral, or public justification,” he asserted.
Hammad Azhar, in his social post, claimed that in NA-129, voters were redirected to polling stations far from their local voting locations. He remarked that despite using various tactics, the administration and PML-N are frustrated and fearful of losing the by-election.
In another post, he alleged that the government had appointed the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) officials as presiding officers to assist Nauman. However, a senior official refuted these allegations, stating that such appointments were made by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), not by Lesco or any other government entity.
On social media, the former federal minister provided instructions to polling agents and workers for the upcoming by-election. He emphasised that, after the election materials bags are opened in the morning, it is essential to ensure that Forms 45 and 46 inside them are blank and visible to everyone. He highlighted the importance of polling agents being present during the polling and counting processes, stating, “The polling boxes must not be out of sight at any moment.”
Azhar further instructed the agents that they have the right to receive the filled Form 45 based on the count, and any staff member who obstructed this process would face strict legal repercussions. He also advised all PTI workers stationed at the party camps outside the polling stations to remain there after polling concluded and to peacefully accompany the presiding officer to the returning officer’s (RO) office. Under the Elections Act 2017, a candidate or their election agent can appoint as many polling agents as allowable for each polling station to observe the process on behalf of the candidate, he added.
In a separate post, he urged the presiding officers and polling staff not to engage in any illegal activities. “We are aware that you are being intimidated and threatened, but do not compromise your position by acting illegally at the behest of any intruder,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the Lahore district administration has announced that it has completed arrangements for the crucial NA-129 by-election. In collaboration with the Election Commission, the administration has provided all necessary logistical and transportation support to ensure the polling process runs smoothly tomorrow from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Following the end of the election campaign period, the administration has made adherence to the Election Commission’s Code of Conduct mandatory, with monitoring teams actively watching for any violations. To maintain law and order, law enforcement agencies have been deployed, and strict enforcement of Section 144 is in place. Additionally, the safe delivery of electoral materials has been ensured.
Commenting on the arrangements for the NA-129 by-election, the District Commissioner stated, “Our top priorities are transparency, impartiality, and conducting polling in a peaceful environment. Legal action will be taken against any violations of the Code of Conduct. The administration has provided the safest possible environment for the convenience and protection of polling staff and voters.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.