Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khanwas leading the key by-election Ahead of next year’s general elections, the popularity of major political parties in the country will be tested on Sunday.
Khan, who contested seven National Assembly seats, has already won from Peshawar and is leading in five other seats. His party also won a provincial assembly seat.
However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party lost a crucial National Assembly seat in Multan, where Ali Musa Gilani, son of former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza, defeated Mehr Bano Qureshi, daughter of former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
According to unofficial results, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz also won one provincial assembly seat, but was trailing behind PTI in other seats.
It was to occupy a total of 11 seats, including eight National Assembly seats and three Provincial Assembly seats.
Data from the Election Commission of Pakistan showed that a total of 101 candidates from various political parties and independents are participating in the vote, including 52 in Punjab, 33 in Sindh and 16 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
About 4.472 million voters are registered in these constituencies. 1,434 polling stations have been set up in Punjab, 979 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 340 in Sindh.
There were sporadic incidents of violence at various places but overall the voting process was smooth and peaceful.
Initially, voters were slow to come out, apparently because of Sunday. However, by the end of the afternoon, the voting process picked up pace.
Tight security measures were put in place by the authorities to maintain peace and the police and paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Corps apart from regular soldiers were also deployed at sensitive polling stations.
The main match was between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and PTI. The voting results are expected to capture the mood of the general public ahead of the general elections next year.
Since being removed from office via a no-confidence vote, Khan has been campaigning for the mid-term elections and holding rallies regularly. This helped him win 15 of the 20 Punjab Assembly seats in July when the by-elections were held.
Khan, who contested seven National Assembly seats, has already won from Peshawar and is leading in five other seats. His party also won a provincial assembly seat.
However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party lost a crucial National Assembly seat in Multan, where Ali Musa Gilani, son of former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza, defeated Mehr Bano Qureshi, daughter of former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
According to unofficial results, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz also won one provincial assembly seat, but was trailing behind PTI in other seats.
It was to occupy a total of 11 seats, including eight National Assembly seats and three Provincial Assembly seats.
Data from the Election Commission of Pakistan showed that a total of 101 candidates from various political parties and independents are participating in the vote, including 52 in Punjab, 33 in Sindh and 16 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
About 4.472 million voters are registered in these constituencies. 1,434 polling stations have been set up in Punjab, 979 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 340 in Sindh.
There were sporadic incidents of violence at various places but overall the voting process was smooth and peaceful.
Initially, voters were slow to come out, apparently because of Sunday. However, by the end of the afternoon, the voting process picked up pace.
Tight security measures were put in place by the authorities to maintain peace and the police and paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Corps apart from regular soldiers were also deployed at sensitive polling stations.
The main match was between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and PTI. The voting results are expected to capture the mood of the general public ahead of the general elections next year.
Since being removed from office via a no-confidence vote, Khan has been campaigning for the mid-term elections and holding rallies regularly. This helped him win 15 of the 20 Punjab Assembly seats in July when the by-elections were held.