The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the frontrunner in the recent By-elections 2024 held for nearly two dozen national and provincial seats, according to unofficial and preliminary results.
Out of the 21 national and provincial seats contested, PML-N secured victory in 4 out of 12 seats in Punjab, a region traditionally strong for the ruling party. Additionally, they clinched a provincial assembly seat in Balochistan and a national assembly seat in Lahore.
The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) also secured a provincial assembly seat from Lahore, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won a national assembly seat from Kamber Shahdadkot.
The By-elections 2024, the first after the February 8 general elections, saw participation from major political parties including PML-N, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council, and PPP. Voting took place from 8 am to 5 pm, with sporadic incidents of clashes reported between workers of different parties in Punjab.
To ensure the integrity and security of the electoral process, the federal government temporarily suspended mobile phone services in several Punjab and Balochistan districts. Additionally, Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces (CAF) troops were deployed at the request of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Tragically, clashes between PML-N and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) workers resulted in the death of a PML-N worker, Muhammad Yousaf, in Narowal. Polling was halted in that constituency as a result.
The by-elections covered five national assembly seats, twelve Punjab Assembly seats, two each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Assemblies, and one in the Sindh Assembly. These included key constituencies across various regions of Pakistan.