- Forms submitted to the Electoral Commission for confirmation.
- Eight candidates withdrew their declaration of candidacy early.
- The seat fell vacant after the disqualification of Ahmed Chattha.
GUJRANWALA: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Bilal Farooq Tarar was elected unopposed in the NA-66 by-election from Wazirabad, officials said.
The returning officer confirmed on Saturday that Tarar’s victory notification had been issued and Form 34 had been forwarded to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for formal confirmation.
The returning officer said 30 people had initially submitted nomination papers for the seat.
However, eight candidates, including those from the Sunni Ittehad Council and Pakistan People’s Party, withdrew their candidature, while the remaining candidates withdrew after the withdrawal deadline expired.
The NA-66 seat fell vacant after the Election Commission of Pakistan removed PTI Punjab president MP Ahmed Chattha following his conviction in the May 9 riots.
Several PTI lawmakers, including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul and others, were found guilty by an anti-terrorism court in various cases on May 9.
Thousands of supporters of PTI founder Imran Khan stormed public property and military installations, including the corps commander’s house in Lahore, on May 9, 2023, to protest against the former prime minister’s arrest.
The riots – in which lives were lost – erupted after the PTI founder was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a corruption case.
Several PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrest, while many of them are still behind bars.
