Quick Facts
Introduction
Polling has ended in the NA-77 Gujranwala and PP-203 Sahiwal by-elections. Read why the seats fell vacant and what the ECP code of conduct notices say.
Voters in two Punjab constituencies went to the polls on Sunday to fill seats left vacant by the deaths of sitting lawmakers. The NA-77 by-election in Gujranwala and the contest for PP-203 in Sahiwal have drawn attention, less because the outcome looked uncertain and more because of several complaints made to the Election Commission of Pakistan while polling was going on.
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Why These Seats Fell Vacant
NA-77 became vacant after the death of PML-N's five-time MNA Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk on 11 September following a long illness. His son, Rashid Bashir Virk, is among the candidates. Dawn reports that the PTI, PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami have officially not fielded candidates in the constituency.
PP-203 fell vacant when PML-N MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jutt died of cardiac arrest on 17 September. This is the second by-election in the seat since the 2024 general election. Independent candidate Rai Murtaza Iqbal, backed by the PTI, originally won it but was later disqualified and denotified after a conviction by an anti-terrorism court. Jutt then won the subsequent by-election on 23 November 2025, with 46,820 votes against 10,975 for his closest rival.
| Constituency | Reason for by-election | Polling hours |
|---|---|---|
| NA-77 Gujranwala | Death of MNA Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk | 8am to 5pm |
| PP-203 Sahiwal | Death of MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jutt | 8am to 5pm |
The ECP's Code of Conduct Notices
The main controversy of the day involved alleged violations of the election code of conduct. The office of the provincial election commissioner issued notices to Punjab MPA Qudsia Batool, MNA Saira Afzal Tarar and Parliamentary Secretary Shazia Rizwan after social media reports that they had visited polling stations in NA-77. Notices were also issued to MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar and MPA Hina Arshad Warraich over similar allegations. They were directed to appear to give an explanation.
On Saturday, the ECP had also taken notice of an alleged violation by federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar during the campaign. The commission said he had visited the constituency by helicopter and addressed an event for Rashid Virk, and it directed him to appear in person. Importantly, the ECP said the constituency's result could be withheld until a final decision is made on the matter.
These are allegations under review, and no final decision has been announced.
Other Complaints on Polling Day
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari claimed on X that supporters of Pakistan Markazi Muslim League candidate Qazi Ibrahim Gujjar had been caught stamping ballots openly. The provincial election commissioner said the returning officer had been told to investigate and submit a report.
After polling closed, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz posted that her party was ahead in both constituencies. That is a party claim and not an official result.
Polling Arrangements in Sahiwal
According to Dawn, 185 polling stations were set up in PP-203, including 11 Category A, 37 Category B and 137 Category C stations. Around 1,370 polling staff were deployed, along with 1,100 police personnel for security.
What to Expect Next
Unofficial counts usually come in polling station by polling station on the same night, while the ECP issues the official consolidated result afterwards. For NA-77, the commission's warning means a winner could be declared unofficially while the formal notification is delayed. Rely on the ECP for final figures, and treat early numbers on social media with caution.
More political reporting is available in our politics news section.
FAQs
When were the NA-77 and PP-203 by-elections held?
Polling took place on Sunday, 8 November 2026, from 8am to 5pm.
Who is the PML-N candidate in NA-77?
Rashid Bashir Virk, son of the late MNA Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk, contested the seat.
Could the NA-77 result be delayed?
Yes. The ECP said the result could be withheld until it decides the code of conduct matter involving Attaullah Tarar.
Source: Dawn.
The featured image is an AI-generated illustration and not a photograph of this event.
Conclusion
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