Punjab by-elections, polling begins in NA-77 and PP-203

PUNJAB: Voting is underway in two Punjab constituencies, NA-77 and PP-203, as voters head to polling stations on Sunday to elect their representatives in closely watched by-elections.

According to report, polling is taking place amid heightened political attention, particularly in NA-77, where the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken notice of an alleged violation of its election code of conduct involving Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.

The NA-77 National Assembly seat fell vacant following the death of five-time MNA Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk on September 11 after a prolonged illness. His son, Rashid Basheer Virk, is among the candidates contesting the by-election.

A total of 18 candidates, including Rashid, submitted nomination papers. However, major opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), have decided not to participate in the contest.

The ECP took notice after Tarar allegedly travelled to the constituency by helicopter and addressed an election campaign event in support of Rashid. The commission said the action violated its code of conduct, which prohibits public office holders, including federal ministers, from participating in election campaigns.

The ECP has sought reports from the district monitoring officer and district returning officer and directed the minister to appear before it. It also warned that the constituency’s election result could be withheld until a final decision is reached.

Meanwhile, PP-203 is witnessing another by-election following the death of PML-N MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jutt, who died of cardiac arrest on September 17, 2026.

The constituency has already undergone a by-election following the 2024 general elections. Independent candidate Rai Murtaza Iqbal, backed by PTI, initially won the seat with 55,874 votes but was later disqualified along with four other PTI-backed parliamentarians following their conviction by an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad.

Jutt subsequently won the November 23, 2025 by-election with 46,820 votes.

For Sunday’s polling, authorities have established 185 polling stations in PP-203 and deployed 1,370 polling personnel, including 574 women and 796 men.

District Police Officer Usman Tipu said 1,100 police personnel had been assigned security duties. A traffic management plan is also in place, with more than 65 personnel deployed to maintain smooth movement around polling stations.

The ECP and district authorities are overseeing arrangements to ensure peaceful voting in both constituencies.