NA-168 By-Election: PML-N’s Malik Munir Iqbal Channar Wins Bahawalpur Seat

PML-N candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar secured 79,306 votes in the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election, according to unofficial results from all 292 polling stations. Independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema finished second with 42,623 votes.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar has won the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results.

The results from all 292 polling stations show Channar securing 79,306 votes. Independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema received 42,623 votes. The reported margin is 36,683 votes.

Polling took place on Sunday, September 27. It started at 8:00 AM and ended at 5;00 PM. Voters who were inside polling stations at closing time were allowed to cast their votes, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

More than 483,000 voters were registered in the constituency.

Seat Returns to Channar Family

The NA-168 seat became vacant after the death of PML-N lawmaker Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in August. The PML-N then nominated his son, Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, for the by-election.

Wali Dad Cheema, the runner-up, is the son of former federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema. The contest had focused mainly on the two candidates during the campaign.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Munir Iqbal Channar on the result. He also congratulated his brother, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar.

The prime minister said the result reflected public confidence in the PML-N. He also recalled Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar’s long association with the party and said his son’s victory represented continuity of that political association and public service.

The result returns the National Assembly seat to the Channar family. Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar had won NA-168 for the PML-N in the 2024 general election.

The Pakistan Peoples Party had withdrawn its candidate during the campaign and announced support for the PML-N nominee, according to reports.