Polling is underway in National Assembly constituency NA-168, Bahawalpur, where voters are casting ballots in a by-election to elect a new member of the National Assembly.
Voting began at 8am on September 27 and is scheduled to continue until 5pm without any break. A total of 483,143 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election.
The by-election is being held after the death of PML-N lawmaker Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, who had won the constituency in the 2024 general election. His son, Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, is contesting the seat as the PML-N candidate.
292 Polling Stations Established
The Election Commission of Pakistan has established 292 polling stations across NA-168.
The polling arrangements include 130 stations for men, 130 for women and 32 combined polling stations. A total of 896 polling booths have been set up to facilitate voters throughout the constituency.
The election authorities have also established a control room to receive complaints and provide assistance during the voting process.
Voters are expected to cast their ballots throughout the day, with polling remaining open until the scheduled closing time of 5pm.
More Than 3,000 Police Personnel Deployed
Security arrangements have been put in place across the constituency for polling day.
More than 3,000 police personnel have been deployed to maintain security at polling stations and other sensitive locations.
One company each of the Pakistan Army and Rangers has also been kept in reserve and can be called upon if required.
The security deployment follows concerns that emerged during the election campaign, including a firing incident in which three people were injured. Police subsequently registered cases in connection with the incident, while election authorities also reviewed security arrangements.
Channar and Cheema Main Candidates
A total of 20 candidates are contesting the NA-168 by-election, although the main contest has centred on PML-N candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar and independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema.
Wali Dad Cheema is the son of former federal minister and MNA Tariq Bashir Cheema, who withdrew his own nomination papers before the final list of candidates was issued.
The PML-N candidate, meanwhile, is the son of the late Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, whose death created the vacancy in the constituency.
PPP Supports PML-N Candidate
The by-election has also been shaped by decisions taken by other political parties.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) withdrew its candidate and announced support for Malik Munir Iqbal Channar. PPP leader Syed Ali Haider Gillani said the decision was linked to the coalition arrangement between the PPP and PML-N.
Meanwhile, PTI has announced a boycott of the by-election and has not fielded a candidate. Independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema has appealed to PTI supporters and sympathisers for their support, while reports have also emerged of PTI figures urging supporters to abstain from voting.
These political positions have added another dimension to the constituency’s electoral contest.
Provincial Status Also a Campaign Issue
The status of Bahawalpur and demands for the creation of new provinces have also featured prominently in the campaign.
Wali Dad Cheema and his father have campaigned for the restoration of Bahawalpur province, while other political groups have raised the demand for a Seraiki province.
The issue has become part of the wider political debate surrounding the by-election, although local voters have also cited constituency-level representation, political alliances and local relationships as factors in the campaign.
Election Follows Contentious Campaign
The campaign period saw several incidents involving rival groups.
In September, a firing incident during an election campaign event left three people injured. Police later registered an FIR against individuals associated with one group, followed by a cross-report involving members of the other group. Police said at the time that investigations were underway and that no arrests had been made from either side.
Election and district officials subsequently reviewed the security situation and directed law-enforcement agencies to ensure security at campaign events and polling locations.
The Election Commission also took notice of the earlier firing incident and sought reports from relevant election officials.
Voters Decide NA-168’s Next MNA
With polling now underway, voters across NA-168 will determine who succeeds the late Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in the National Assembly.
The constituency has 483,143 registered voters, with polling taking place at 292 stations and 896 booths.
Authorities have deployed thousands of police personnel while keeping Army and Rangers contingents in reserve.
The polling process is scheduled to continue until 5pm, after which the counting and consolidation of results will determine the outcome of the by-election.
The contest has attracted attention because of the competing political positions, the involvement of two prominent local families, the PPP’s support for the PML-N candidate and PTI’s boycott of the election.
For voters, however, the immediate focus remains on casting their ballots as the electoral process continues across Bahawalpur’s NA-168 constituency.
