KARACHI: PPP's Abdul Hakeem Baloch wins NA-258 by-election

KARACHI - According to unofficial results, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Abdul Hakeem Baloch has won NA-258 b-election 2016.

According to media details, Abdul Hakeem Baloch secured 80,000 votes while Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate stood second in the race.

A total of eleven candidates from various political parties contested the election.

The Polling started at 8 am and will continue till 5 pm without any formal interval.

The provincial and federal government has announced a public holiday for all offices located in the constituency. The Chief Election Commissioner Sindh toured the constituency and observed the arrangements for the by-poll on Sunday.

Karachi's major political parties including MQM and PTI have already announced the boycott of the election thus making it easier for PPP's Hakim Baloch to clinch the victory.

The seat fell vacant after the Hakim Baloch who won the constituency in 2013 general elections through PML-N’s platform resigned a couple of months ago. He is now contesting through PPP's platform.

Political observers are eyeing Hakim Baloch as the winner after the boycott decision both by MQM and PTI.

There were 18 candidates in the Election Commission’s final list. After MQM’s Mumtaz Ali Imrani and PTI’s Hanif Bangash withdrew, the competition will now be between 16 candidates, of which 11 are independent candidates.