Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar emerged as the frontrunner in the NA-168 (Bahawalpur-V) by-election late on Sunday, defeating independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema, according to unofficial results.
Channar secured 79,306 votes against Cheema’s 42,623, retaining the seat vacated after the death of his father, Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar. The turnout was low, as in most by-poll races, with the constituency having more than 483,000 registered voters. In the 2024 general elections, the late Channar had won the seat with 124,529 votes.
The polling process was largely peaceful, though some isolated incidents of violence or mismanagement were reported. The provincial election commissioner said balloting was suspended briefly at a polling station in Akhtarabad due to a fight between voters of rival camps, adding police help was sought and the situation brought under control.
Local media reported the voter turnout picked up in the evening, with the highest turnouts reported at polling stations considered strongholds of the Channar clan.
In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated Malik Munir Iqbal Channar as well as his brother Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar, the incumbent Punjab Assembly deputy speaker, on the by-poll victory. He appreciated the people of Bahawalpur for electing their representative, stating the victory showed public confidence in the PMLN.
He noted the late Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar had remained loyal to the PMLN and its leader Nawaz Sharif for a long period and had rendered valuable services to the party. The victory of his son, he continued, reflected the continuation of that political loyalty and public service.