According to details, Imran Khan's party is in the clear lead on 15 constituencies. The polling continued till 5pm in most districts with Section 144 implemented to establish law and order in the province on Sunday.
As per media reports, PTI candidate Zain Qureshi managed to win in Multan's PP-217 constituency, according to unofficial results.
Son of former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi prevailed over PML-N's Mohammad Salman. Zain bagged 47,252, while Salman got 40,203. In Multan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani former Prime Minister and his Party, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Former Governor Malik Rafiq Rajwana, District administration, Punjab cabinet were supporting the PML-N candidate Salman Naeem Sheikh and they were opposing Shah Mehmood Qureshi instead of PTI.
In PP-288 Dera Ghazi Khan, PTI's Sardar Mohammad Saifuddin emerged victorious with 58,885 votes whereas his rival PML-N's Abdul Qadir Khan could only manage 32,907 votes.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) established 3,131 polling stations in these 20 constituencies, out of which 676 have been declared highly sensitive and 1,194 sensitive.Now PTI bagged 15 ,PML-N 4 and an independent was also elected vy defeating both major parties
Admit wholeheartedly ‘historic victory’ of PTI: PML-N’s Malik Ahmed Khan
Imran wants courts opened ‘now’
Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has accused the Punjab government of using the state machinery to rig the by-elections on 20 provincial assembly seats while calling upon the courts to “open now and act”.
In a tweet from his official handle, Imran said the provincial government led by CM Hamza Shehbaz “brazenly” violated Supreme Court orders and election rules “by openly using all govt/State machinery to rig Punjab elections through illegal ballot stamping & harassing voters while arresting PTI ldrs[leaders]”.
“Through it all ECP [Election Commission of Pakistan] turned a blind eye. Courts must open now & act,” he maintained.
In another tweet, the ex-premier condemned the arrest of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill. “[I] strongly condemn Illegal arrest of Shahbaz Gill simply to try & rig elections & spread fear in people.”
Rashid’s ‘leaked audio clip’
Meanwhile, an alleged leaked audio clip of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has gone viral on social media in which he could be heard discussing about some shady transaction made to disgruntled PML-N leader Jaleel Ahmed Sharaqpuri.
Development comes a day after the ruling PML-N lost two key provincial assembly seats when two of their MPAs — Faisal Khan Niazi and Mian Jaleel Ahmed Sharaqpuri – tendered their resignations ahead of crucial Punjab by-polls.
In the purported leaked conversation between Rashid and the other person identified as Gul Zaman, the former could be heard saying that payment has been made to Sharaqpuri. To which Gul Zaman replied, “fear God, don't talk this matter on the phone”.
Reacting to the development, Rashid confirmed the authenticity of the audio clip saying government officials were tapping his phone calls. “It is my voice and I was just joking about the [payment].”
‘Fawad Chaudhry's vehicle attacked’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has alleged that police and local administration instigated an attack on the former information minister Fawad Chaudhry’s vehicle amid Lahore by-election.
PTI Central Punjab Information Secretary Musarat Jamshed told the media that Fawad, along with former finance minister Shaukat Tareen, was visiting polling stations to inspect the polling process in PP-168 when his vehicle was attacked by some miscreant, who was later arrested from the Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) Pakistan camp.
She alleged that police had played the role of spectator and provided protection to attackers who broke the windshields of Fawad's vehicle. However, the PTI leader remained safe during the attack, she added.
Jamshed underscored that it is a matter of concern that the PTI’s central leader was attacked in the presence of heavy police deployment.
Police arrive in PP-272 to 'arrest' Gill
A heavy contingent of police arrived in Muzaffargarh's PP-272 allegedly to arrest PTI leader Shahbaz Gill. In a tweet, the party stalwart said: "I am not afraid of arrest. Imran Khan's soldier is not afraid of such tactics. We did not come to do terrorism, I am ready to be arrested."PTI Chairman Imran Khan and senior leader Shireen Mazari have strongly condemned the arrest terming it a "fascist act".
