NA-77 Gujranwala by-poll: ECP notifies PML-N’s Virk as returned candidate

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has notified the winning candidate, who belongs to the ruling party; Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), for a National Assembly seat — despite that the Commission continues hearing the relevant case related to code of conduct violation in the recently held by-election on the said seat, with Information Minister Atta Tarar already summoned in-person for the next date hearing.

In this context, the electoral entity on Friday notified N-Leaguer Raashid Bashir Virk as the returned candidate for NA-77 Gujranwala in the by-election held earlier on Sunday.

The said seat had fallen vacant following the death of PML-N’s Mahmood Bashir Virk, the father of the new lawmaker-elect, on 11th September.

Last Saturday, a day before the by-election, the ECP took notice of the media reports suggesting that the information minister had landed in the said constituency “on a helicopter,” and that he participated in a gathering there. The Commission summoned Tarar in personal capacity over the electoral code of conduct’s alleged violation. In a public statement issued then, the electoral body stated that the result of the NA-77 by-election could be withheld till the matter was decided.

The ECP’s code of conduct bars the government functionaries from visiting any electoral constituency where an election is announced and the related programme is notified by the ECP.

During the proceedings of the related case by a three-member ECP bench earlier on Thursday, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja came down hard on the ruling side after Tarar failed to appear before the bench, warning that failure to honour the poll body’s directives could result in “potentially grim consequences.”

The CEC also warned Punjab’s Parliamentary Secretary Health Asma Naz Abbasi that she could lose her legislative seat and receive a contempt notice over “non-serious” attitude during the case proceedings.

Defence lawyer Sajeel Swati, in Thursday’s proceedings, informed the bench that the information minister was on a foreign visit due to which he could not appear before the ECP bench.

“What would he get from that visit other than getting media coverage,” the CEC remarked. “Non-compliance with the Election Commission’s directions can attract potentially grim consequences,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Gujranwala Naveed Ahmad stated before the bench that the information minister landed in a cantonment area, which, according to him, did not fall under their administrative purview.

The DC received an instant rebuff from the CEC. “Go and read the law,” the CEC told the DC.

In the same hearing, the bench summoned City Police Officer (CPO) Gujranwala Sardar Ghias Gul for the next hearing. It also directed that the respondents, including the information minister, ensure their physical attendance at the next hearing scheduled on 1st December.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026