Form-47 issued for NA-168 by-election in Bahawalpur

BAHAWALPUR: The Returning Officer (RO) on Monday issued Form-47 for the by-election in National Assembly constituency NA-168 Bahawalpur, declaring Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar successful.

According to Form-47, Malik Munir Iqbal Channar secured 87,789 votes, while independent candidate Chaudhry Walidaad Cheema stood second with 39,888 votes.

The RO said that a total of 142,320 votes were polled in the constituency, of which 140,847 were declared valid. The voter turnout was recorded at 29.46 per cent.

The NA-168 seat fell vacant following the death of PML-N MNA Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in August. The PML-N fielded his son, Malik Munir, for the by-election, while Walidaad Cheema, son of former federal minister Chaudhary Tariq Bashir Cheema, contested as an independent candidate.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Malik Munir Iqbal Channar on his victory in the NA-168 by-election.

In a statement, the prime minister also congratulated Channar’s brother, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar.

Shehbaz Sharif said the result reflected the voters’ trust in the PML-N and recalled the services of the late Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar to the party.

He said Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar had served the PML-N alongside party leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for a long period, adding that his son’s success represented continuity in public service.

The prime minister also said the people of Bahawalpur had participated in the democratic process and elected their representative.

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Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominee Dr Najeeb Naqi was elected the 25th president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after securing a majority of votes in the presidential election.

Polling was held at the AJK Legislative Assembly, where Dr Najeeb Naqi defeated Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Chaudhry Latif Akbar.

According to the election results, Dr Najeeb Naqi secured 32 votes, while Latif Akbar received 13 votes.

Following the election, political circles began extending congratulations to the newly elected president. Dr Najeeb Naqi is expected to take oath of office soon.

The presidential seat had remained vacant since the death of Barrister Sultan Mahmood in January this year.