PML-N snatches NA-154 seat from PTI in Lodhran by-poll, show unofficial results

PML-N: 116,590

PTI: 91,530

Independent Candidate backed by TLP: 10, 181

PPP: 3,170

(Unofficial results from 330 polling stations out of total 338)

LODHRAN - The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has won the by-polls for the constituency of NA-154 Lodhran, according to unofficial results from all 338 polling stations, dealing a major blow to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) before the general elections on Monday.

PML-N’s Iqbal Shah managed to secure 113,542 votes, while his competitor, PTI's Ali Tareen, contesting his first election on his father’s seat, could bag 85,933 votes.

PML-N won by a margin of 27,609 votes according to provisional results.

Malik Muhammad Azhar, the independent candidate who is backed by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, stands third with 10, 181 votes while PPP's candidate Mirza Muhammad Ali Baig has managed to secure only 3, 170 votes.

Soon after the PML-N candidate took a visible majority, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated his party on the victory.

Thank you Lodhran for your trust in the leadership of PMLN... It's your victory... And we will continue to serve you... Congratulations to all the PMLN workers and our victorious candidate Iqbal Shah sb.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 12, 2018

Maryam Nawaz, daughter of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, also thanked the people of Lodhran for PML-N victory.

شکریہ لودھراں ۔۔۔۔ خوش کر دیا !

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) February 12, 2018

The balloting for the key by-poll began at 9am and continued without any break till 5 in the evening.

The National Assembly seat fell vacant in the wake of the disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen by the Supreme Court in December 2017.

The government had deployed 4,000 security personnel, including army personnel, in the constituency in view of avoiding any unforeseen development and to ensure free and fair conduct.

Polling underway for NA-154 Lodhran by-election

Jahangir Tareen, while speaking to the media after casting his vote, stated that there is no possibility of rigging in the by-election today with the presence of army personnel outside polling stations.

According to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), 328 polling stations have been set up in the constituency for 431,002 registered voters.

As many as 338 presiding officers and 1,043 presiding officers will perform duties on 1,043 polling booths.

In the 2015 by-polls, Jahangir Tareen had won the seat after defeating the PML-N’s Siddique Baloch with a margin of more than 35, 000 votes.

ECP Fines PTI, PML-N’s candidates

The district monitoring officer has imposed a fine of Rs40,000 and Rs30,000 on Ali Tareen and Iqbal Shah respectively for breaching the code of conduct by running election campaign after the deadline.

Both candidates have been issued notices on the violations.