Polling begins in NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election

Polling has begun in the by-election for National Assembly constituency NA-168 in Bahawalpur. Voting started at 8am and will continue without any break until 5pm.

A total of 483,143 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the constituency. Election authorities have established 292 polling stations and 896 polling booths for the by-election. The polling stations include separate facilities for male and female voters, along with combined stations.

Twenty candidates are contesting the by-election. The main contest is between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar and independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema.

The NA-168 seat fell vacant following the death of PML-N lawmaker Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar. His son, Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, is contesting the by-election on the PML-N ticket. The Pakistan Peoples Party has also announced support for him.

Wali Dad Cheema is contesting as an independent candidate. He is the son of former federal minister and MNA Tariq Bashir Cheema, who has been campaigning in support of his son.

Security arrangements have been strengthened across the constituency to ensure peaceful polling. More than 3,000 police personnel have been deployed for election security, while the Pakistan Army and Rangers are also available as reserve forces.

Election officials have directed the relevant departments to ensure proper arrangements at polling stations and facilitate voters throughout the polling process.

The election is being closely watched because of the contest between the two main candidates and the political alliances supporting them. The final result will determine who succeeds Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar as the representative of NA-168 in the National Assembly.