PML-N candidate Rashid Bashir Virk emerged victorious in the NA-77 Gujranwala contest, while Asad Hanif Jatt won the PP-203 Chichawatni seat by a substantial margin, the preliminary figures showed.
The results represent electoral gains for the party in two constituencies in Punjab, the country’s most populous province and a key battleground in national politics.
In Gujranwala, party leaders and supporters gathered at the PML-N’s central office following the announcement of Virk’s victory. Senior party figures, including Member of the National Assembly Saira Afzal Tarar, Bilal Farooq Tarar and former federal minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir, visited to congratulate the winning candidate.
Supporters marked the result with fireworks, sweets and traditional dances accompanied by drums, reflecting the party’s celebrations after the contest.
The provisional result for NA-77 added to the party’s success in the second constituency, where its candidate Asad Hanif Jatt secured a clear lead over his closest rival.
PP-203 Chichawatni result
According to unofficial figures compiled from all 185 polling stations in PP-203, Jatt received 41,245 votes, defeating independent rival Muhammad Awais Gujjar, who secured 23,167 votes.
The winning margin stood at 18,078 votes, according to the provisional count.
A total of 258,122 voters were registered in the constituency, for which authorities established 185 polling stations to facilitate the electoral process.
Voting continued until 5pm, with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reporting that polling proceeded without interruption throughout the day.
The PP-203 seat had become vacant following the death of PML-N lawmaker Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jatt, prompting the by-election to choose a representative for the provincial assembly constituency.
The result gives the PML-N a victory in the contest to retain the seat, although the figures remain subject to formal verification and notification by the election commission.
The outcome in Chichawatni was particularly notable for the size of Jatt’s lead over his nearest competitor. His vote total was significantly higher than Gujjar’s, according to the preliminary count.
Results await official confirmation
The Election Commission of Pakistan is responsible for examining and confirming election results before they become final. The figures announced so far are unofficial and could be subject to the commission’s prescribed verification process.
The by-elections provide an indication of political support in the two constituencies, but their results should be considered within the local context of each contest.
By-elections are often closely watched by political parties because they offer an opportunity to assess voter sentiment between general elections, test local campaign organisations and strengthen representation in national and provincial legislatures.
For the PML-N, victories in both constituencies provide an encouraging outcome in Punjab, where the party has a significant political base and where electoral contests can influence the broader balance of provincial and national politics.
The celebrations in Gujranwala also demonstrated the importance party supporters attach to constituency-level victories, with senior politicians joining workers to welcome Virk’s reported success.
In Chichawatni, Jatt’s substantial margin gives the party a strong result in the contest for the vacant provincial assembly seat.
The final outcome in both constituencies will depend on the Election Commission’s formal announcement after completion of the required procedures.
Until then, the results remain provisional, with the PML-N celebrating victories based on the unofficial count.
