PML-N candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar has won the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election, retaining the National Assembly seat for the ruling party following the death of his father, Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar.
According to unofficial and unconfirmed results from all 292 polling stations, Munir Iqbal secured 79,306 votes, while independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema finished second with 42,623 votes.
Polling began at 8am on Sunday and continued until 5pm without interruption. The constituency has more than 483,000 registered voters.
Channar family retains NA-168 seat
The NA-168 seat became vacant following the death of PML-N lawmaker Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in August. His son was subsequently awarded the party ticket to contest the by-election.
Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar had won the constituency for the PML-N in the 2024 general election with 124,529 votes.
Munir Iqbal had previously served as deputy mayor of the Bahawalpur Municipal Corporation before receiving the PML-N ticket for the by-election.
The Channar family also has a presence in Punjab’s provincial politics. Before the 2024 general election, the PML-N had awarded a National Assembly ticket to Iqbal Channar and a Punjab Assembly ticket to his son, Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar.
Shehbaz congratulates victorious candidate
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Munir Iqbal on his victory and said the result reflected voters’ confidence in the PML-N.
The prime minister also felicitated Munir Iqbal’s brother, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar, on the election result.
Shehbaz paid tribute to the late Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, saying he had remained loyal to the PML-N and its leader Nawaz Sharif for a long period and had rendered valuable services to the party.
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He said his son’s victory reflected the continuation of that political loyalty and public service.
The prime minister also praised voters in Bahawalpur for participating in the democratic process and electing their representative.
Contest centred on PML-N, independent candidate
The NA-168 contest had largely centred on Munir Iqbal and Wali Dad Cheema, the son of former federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema.
The Pakistan Peoples Party withdrew its candidate during the campaign and announced support for the PML-N nominee.
With all 292 polling stations reporting their counts, the unofficial results put Munir Iqbal comfortably ahead, although the final result remains subject to confirmation by the Election Commission.
