PML-N's Asad Hanif Jatt wins PP-203 Sahiwal by-election

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Chaudhry Asad Hanif Jatt has won the by-election in PP-203 Sahiwal-VI, the Chichawatni seat in the Punjab Assembly, according to counts published by two outlets that differ on the figures.

ARY News reported that Asad Hanif took 42,114 votes and that Tehreek-e-Ehsas Pakistan's Owais Mahmood came second with 25,512, describing the numbers as official results. Minute Mirror, which called the results unofficial and unverified, reported 41,245 votes for Asad Hanif Jatt against 23,167 for Tehreek-e-Ehsas Pakistan's Muhammad Awais Gujjar, a margin of 18,078.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Jatt's father, PML-N MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jatt, on September 17, 2026 from cardiac arrest, according to Minute Mirror. ARY News reported that the vacancy followed the death of PML-N leader Hanif Jatt but gave no date.

Minute Mirror reported that 258,122 voters were registered in the constituency, where 185 polling stations and 560 booths were set up. Seven candidates contested, four of them independents.

Polling was largely peaceful. Awais Gujjar accused the PML-N camp of placing fake ballot boxes inside polling stations. The winning candidate rejected the allegation.

Minute Mirror also reported the NA-77 Gujranwala-I by-election, where it said PML-N's Rashid Bashir Virk led Pakistan Markazi Muslim League's Muhammad Ibrahim Gujjar by 1,396 votes. Form-45 figures from 125 of the constituency's 333 polling stations gave Virk 13,104 votes and Gujjar 11,708. Virk is the son of late PML-N MNA Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk, who died on September 11, 2026 after a long illness. The constituency has more than 518,000 registered voters, 333 polling stations and 963 booths. Eleven candidates contested and PTI, PPP and Jamaat-e-Islami did not officially field candidates.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari alleged that supporters of the Markazi Muslim League candidate were caught stamping ballot papers in the presence of election staff. The Election Commission of Pakistan took notice and directed the Returning Officer to investigate and submit a report.

The commission also issued notices to PML-N MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar and MPA Hina Arshad Warraich over alleged violations of the election code of conduct for visiting polling stations. Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja visited the Provincial Election Commissioner's office in Lahore, where he was briefed on the polling arrangements.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said in posts on X that PML-N was leading in both constituencies.