Punjab By-Elections: Polling Under Way in NA-77 and PP-203 as PML-N Defends Both Seats

Voters in two Punjab constituencies went to the polls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, in by-elections for the National Assembly seat NA-77 in Gujranwala and the Punjab Assembly seat PP-203 in Sahiwal. Polling began at 8:00am and is scheduled to continue without a break until 5:00pm.

Both seats fell vacant after the deaths of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers who held them. The ruling party is now defending both seats, but it is doing so in unusual circumstances: the main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is boycotting both contests, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has warned that the result in NA-77 could be withheld over an alleged breach of the election code by a federal minister.

For the people of Gujranwala and Chichawatni, today is about choosing their representatives. For the rest of the country, it is a small but telling test of the PML-N’s standing in Punjab, the province that is its political home.

What is happening today

By-elections are held when a seat in parliament or a provincial assembly becomes vacant before the end of its term. In this case, both vacancies were caused by the deaths of sitting lawmakers, and both men belonged to the PML-N.

In NA-77, voters are choosing a new member of the National Assembly. In PP-203, they are choosing a new member of the Punjab Assembly. The two contests are separate, but they are being held on the same day, in the same province, and under the same shadow: a boycott by the opposition and a dispute over campaign rules.

Polling stations opened at 8:00am in both constituencies. Election materials had been delivered in advance, and security arrangements were completed before voting began. Army and Rangers personnel were deployed to guard polling stations, alongside more than 1,100 police personnel in PP-203 alone.

NA-77 Gujranwala: a son follows his father

The NA-77 seat in Gujranwala became vacant after the death of Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk, a five-time member of the National Assembly, who died on 11 September 2026 after a prolonged illness. He was a senior PML-N figure and a former federal minister.

His son, Rashid Basheer Virk, is now contesting the seat on the PML-N ticket. According to Dawn, 18 candidates filed nomination papers for the constituency. But the contest is not a full one: the PTI, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) have all decided not to take part in the by-election.

That leaves the field to the PML-N and smaller parties and independent candidates. Reports from the constituency suggest the closest contest is expected between Rashid Basheer Virk and Muhammad Ibrahim Gujjer of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League. Eleven candidates are reported to be in the final contest in NA-77.

NA-77 has about 518,000 registered voters, with 333 polling stations set up across the constituency. It is a large, mostly urban and semi-urban seat in one of Punjab’s biggest industrial cities, and the PML-N has traditionally been strong here. The party will expect to hold it. The question is by how much, and with what turnout, given that the main opposition is staying away.

PP-203 Sahiwal: a seat voting for the third time in two years

The PP-203 seat in Chichawatni, Sahiwal, has a more complicated recent history. This is the second by-election in the constituency since the 2024 general elections, which means voters here are choosing their representative for the third time in less than three years.

The seat fell vacant after the death of PML-N MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jutt, who died of a cardiac arrest on 17 September 2026.

In the 2024 general elections, the seat was won by independent candidate Rai Murtaza Iqbal, who was backed by the PTI. He polled 55,874 votes against Jutt’s 35,163. But Iqbal was later disqualified and denotified by the ECP after he was convicted by an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad on 31 July, along with four other PTI-backed parliamentarians.

A by-election was then held on 23 November 2025, which Jutt won with 46,820 votes. His closest rival, independent candidate Falik Sher, secured 10,975 votes. Less than a year later, Jutt’s death has forced voters back to the polling stations once again.

Seven candidates are contesting this time. The PML-N has fielded Muhammad Asad Hanif Jutt, and a close contest is expected between him and Owais Mahmood Gujjar of Tehreek-e-Ahsas Pakistan. The PTI is boycotting this by-election too, and neither the PPP nor Jamaat-i-Islami has fielded a candidate.

PP-203 has 258,122 registered voters, including about 122,000 women. A total of 185 polling stations have been set up, including 11 in Category A, which means highly sensitive, 37 in Category B and 137 in Category C. Around 1,370 polling personnel, including 574 women and 796 men, have been deputed for the by-election. District Police Officer Usman Tipu said 1,100 personnel had been deployed to ensure security, and a traffic management plan has been put in place with more than 65 personnel assigned duties.

The ECP notice: why the NA-77 result could be withheld

The most unusual part of today’s voting is not on the ballot paper. It is a dispute that began a day before polling, when the Election Commission of Pakistan took notice of an alleged violation of the election code of conduct by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar during campaigning in NA-77.

According to the ECP, the minister visited the constituency by helicopter and addressed a campaign event for the PML-N candidate, Rashid Basheer Virk. The election code of conduct bars public office holders, including federal ministers, from taking part in campaign activities.

The commission has sought a report from the district monitoring officer and the district returning officer to inquire into the matter. It has also directed the minister to appear before the commission in person.

Most importantly, the ECP said the result of the NA-77 constituency could be withheld until a final decision is made on the matter. That means that even after the votes are counted this evening, the winner may not be formally announced straight away.

The notice has already become a story in its own right. For the PML-N, it is an embarrassment on polling day. For the ECP, it is a test of whether the rules apply equally to ministers and ordinary candidates. And for voters in NA-77, it raises the possibility that their verdict could be left hanging while the commission decides.

Why the opposition is boycotting

The PTI, which is the largest opposition party in the country, is boycotting both by-elections. The PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami have also decided not to field candidates.

The boycott matters for two reasons. First, it changes the shape of the contest. Without the PTI on the ballot, the PML-N faces no serious challenge from its main rival, and the contests become fights between the ruling party and much smaller parties and independents. Second, it affects turnout. When voters know the main opposition is not taking part, many simply stay at home.

The PTI’s absence is part of a wider standoff between the party and the government. The party’s founder, former prime minister Imran Khan, remains in jail, and the PTI has argued that the political environment is not fair. Its decision to sit out these by-elections is a continuation of that position.

But a boycott also has a cost. It means the PTI has no candidate to vote for, no campaign on the ground, and no stake in the result. If the PML-N wins both seats, as expected, the party will present the victories as a sign of public support, even though its main rival did not take part.

Why these by-elections matter

Two seats will not change the balance of power in the National Assembly or the Punjab Assembly. The PML-N already holds both, and it is expected to hold them again. So why do these by-elections matter?

First, Punjab is the PML-N’s home ground. The party’s reputation rests on its performance in this province. Winning comfortably here is expected; winning narrowly, or with very low turnout, would raise questions.

Second, the by-elections are a measure of public mood. Voters in Gujranwala and Chichawatni are living with the same problems as the rest of the country: high prices, expensive electricity, and a difficult job market. A by-election is one of the few chances they get to send a message to the government between general elections. Turnout figures, even in a boycotted contest, will be watched closely.

Third, PP-203 is a seat with a history of changing hands. It was won by a PTI-backed independent in 2024, then by the PML-N in a by-election in 2025, and now it is being contested again. The result will show whether the PML-N’s hold on the constituency is solid or fragile.

Fourth, the ECP’s handling of the Tarar case will be watched by every political party. If the commission withholds the NA-77 result, it will send a strong message that ministers cannot campaign in by-elections. If it takes no further action, opposition parties will say the rules are not enforced.

What happens next

Polling closes at 5:00pm today. Counting will begin immediately afterwards at the polling stations, and unofficial results are expected to start coming in during the evening.

In PP-203, the result should be announced in the normal way, unless there are complaints or disputes at individual polling stations. In NA-77, the picture is less clear: the ECP has already said the result could be withheld until it decides the case against the information minister.

The ECP’s decision on the Tarar notice is likely to come in the days after polling. The minister has been directed to appear before the commission in person, and the reports from the district monitoring officer and the district returning officer will form part of the case.

For the winners, the work will begin quickly. The new MNA for NA-77 and the new MPA for PP-203 will take their seats in the National Assembly and the Punjab Assembly respectively, and both will face the same expectations as their predecessors: to raise local issues, to bring development funds to their constituencies, and to stay in touch with the voters who elected them.

For the voters of Gujranwala and Chichawatni, today is the third time in less than three years that PP-203 has gone to the polls, and the second time in two months that both constituencies have lost a representative. They will hope the people they choose today stay in office long enough to finish the job.

Frequently asked questions

What are the NA-77 and PP-203 by-elections?

They are by-elections being held on Sunday, 8 November 2026, to fill two vacant seats: NA-77 in Gujranwala, a National Assembly seat, and PP-203 in Sahiwal, a Punjab Assembly seat. Both seats fell vacant after the deaths of the PML-N lawmakers who held them.

Who is contesting in NA-77?

The PML-N has fielded Rashid Basheer Virk, the son of the late MNA Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk. Eighteen candidates filed nomination papers, but the PTI, PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami are not taking part. The closest contest is expected to be between Rashid Basheer Virk and Muhammad Ibrahim Gujjer of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League.

Who is contesting in PP-203?

Seven candidates are contesting. The PML-N candidate is Muhammad Asad Hanif Jutt, and a close contest is expected between him and Owais Mahmood Gujjar of Tehreek-e-Ahsas Pakistan. The PTI is boycotting the by-election.

Why could the NA-77 result be withheld?

The Election Commission of Pakistan has taken notice of an alleged violation of the election code by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who is accused of campaigning in the constituency by helicopter. The code bars public office holders from campaigning. The ECP has said the result could be withheld until it makes a final decision.

When will the results be announced?

Polling closes at 5:00pm on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Counting begins immediately, and unofficial results are expected in the evening. The formal announcement for NA-77 may be delayed if the ECP decides to withhold the result.

Why is the PTI boycotting the by-elections?

The PTI is boycotting both by-elections as part of its wider standoff with the government. The party’s founder, Imran Khan, remains in jail, and the party has argued that the political environment is not fair.

Sources

• Dawn — https://www.dawn.com/news/2043037
• Aaj English — https://english.aaj.tv/news/330479829/polling-begins-in-by-elections-for-gujranwala-sahiwal-constituencies
• Dawn — https://www.dawn.com/news/2042917/ecp-summons-tarar-over-breach-of-election-code
• MM News — https://mmnews.tv/by-elections-underway-in-na-77-and-pp-203-as-polling-begins-in-gujranwala-and-chichawatni/

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.