Monitoring Desk
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged victorious in the by-election for Punjab Assembly constituency PP-52 in Sialkot on Sunday, but the win was quickly overshadowed by serious allegations of rigging and administrative interference levelled by rival parties — the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Unofficial results showed PML-N’s Hina Arshad Warraich securing 78,702 votes, defeating PTI-backed independent candidate Fakhir Nashat Ghumman, who received 39,018 votes. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of Ms Warraich’s father, PML-N MPA Arshad Javed Warraich.
While polling remained largely peaceful across all 185 polling stations, opposition parties claimed that the result was manipulated through administrative pressure, police interference, and the exclusion of rival polling agents.
Protests and Accusations
Shortly after polls closed, the PPP staged a sit-in outside the returning officer’s office in Sambrial, condemning the use of shipping containers placed outside the premises. Former prime minister and senior PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf alleged that polling stations in several areas were closed prematurely, warning that any tampering with results would undermine electoral credibility.
“This will not bode well for the government,” Ashraf said, urging the Chief Election Commissioner to take immediate notice of the alleged irregularities.
The PTI went further, accusing the Punjab government and police of orchestrating rigging. In a press conference in Islamabad, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqqas Akram alleged that polling agents from his party were forcibly removed, ballot papers were stamped inside polling stations, and police officials sided openly with PML-N workers.
“Our polling agents were beaten, expelled, and replaced by PML-N workers,” he claimed. “We have video evidence of ballot stuffing and voter intimidation. Even the Election Commission’s helpline was unreachable during polling hours.”
Official Response
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected the allegations. Punjab Election Commissioner Sharifullah said polling was held without interruption at all stations until 5pm and assured that any formal complaints submitted through proper channels would be reviewed.
The local administration also defended its decision to place containers outside the RO’s office, stating they had been there since the morning for “security reasons” and that the office remained accessible throughout.
PML-N’s Reaction
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the winning candidate and thanked Sialkot’s voters for their continued support. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said the by-election result was a clear vote of confidence in Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s leadership.
Taking aim at the opposition, Bukhari said, “Even parties that received only 400 votes are now crying foul.” She accused the PTI of hypocrisy, claiming that those who once attacked the electoral process were now demanding fairness.
What’s Next
With both PTI and PPP expected to escalate the matter through formal complaints and media campaigns, the Sialkot by-poll is likely to remain a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over electoral transparency and the role of state institutions in elections.
