SIALKOT: Hina Arshad Warraich, candidate of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), secured a decisive victory in PP-52 by-elections with unofficial results from all 185 polling stations, according to media reports.
The winning candidate received 78,419 while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed candidate Fakhir Nishat Ghuman secured 40,037 votes.
Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz has extended her heartfelt congratulations to Hina and thanked the people of PP-52.
She said that the victory demonstrates the trust of the Public in the policies of the government, while adding that the journey of development shall not be stopped, and we will ensure to meet the confidence shown by the people of PP-52 in the government.
Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had alleged election rigging and claimed that their polling agents and voters were tortured and thrown out of several polling stations.
PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf said that there were reports of polling being stopped as soon as voters arrived, with officials throwing agents and voters out of the rooms. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram also echoed similar allegations.
On the other hand, PML-N leader and senior provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb rejected the allegations and said that PTI has once again resorted to its old blame game. She said that when there is no performance, people do not vote.
The Election Commission also rejected the claims of rigging and sought evidence, assuring that if evidence is provided, action will be taken by the provincial election commissioner.
