Islamabad:
During a by-election in the district of Siackot PP-52 on Sunday, observers belonging to the free and fair electoral network (FAFEN) documented persistent illegal campaign bodies near polling stations, isolated violations of the identification of voters, the treatment of ballots and counting procedures.
In a three -page report published Tuesday, Fafen noted that the general environment around polling stations remained largely peaceful on the day of the ballot.
PML-N candidate Hina Arshad Warraich received the greatest number of votes during the by-election held after the seat fell vacant due to the disappearance of her father Arshad Warraich. The PTI and the PPP then accused the party in power of having used state machines to win the polls.
The report indicates that the bypass election was marked by a slight decrease in the participation rate and a reduction in the number of invalid votes compared to the general elections of 2024 in the midst of isolated procedural irregularities, including the disturbance of the counting process by the police in a ballot.
Despite a drop in the participation rate – from 50% to 45% – the margin of victory increased considerably, going from 8,535 votes to GE -2024 to 39,684 in the course. The provisional consolidated statement of the results of the count (form 47) was finalized around 1 h 15, well in the legal deadline of 2:00.
The report cited a particularly serious incident, in which a police contingent entered the premises of the polling station No. 169 when the number of voting bulletins was underway.
“They withdrew the agents and observers of the party present in the counting room and took the electoral documents and the survey staff with them without waiting for the process to be finished. Fafen could not obtain a copy of the result of the polling station for the by -election.”
The report noted that although the participation rate during the by-election was lower than that of GE-2024, it was slightly higher than the participation rate recorded during the recent by-election of Umerkot NA-213 held in April 2025.
The women’s participation rate increased from 47% in the 2024 to 39%, while the male participation rate increased from 53% to 50% during the by-election.
“According to Form 47, the share of the votes of the PML-N increased from 41% in GE-2024 to 59% during the by-election. The independent finalist candidate, supported by PTI, saw his share of voting go from 35% to 29%.”
Fafen had deployed ten trained observers, including seven men and three women, who observed voting and counting processes in 39 of the 185 polling stations established in the constituency.
According to Fafen observers, approximately 79% of the polling stations observed had party camps / candidates near the polling stations, while 85% of polling stations had banners or flags of candidates or festivals presented in their environment.
The parts around the polling stations also displayed campaign equipment and distributed things and food to visitors to visitors about 23% of the polling stations observed. Vehicles supported by parties were seen ensuring transport to voters outside of 46% of the polling stations observed.
He said the ballot agents were observed to verify the national identity cards (NICS), marking the thumbs of the electors who are eligible for indelible ink, obtaining their thumb impressions on the electoral roles and striking their names on the electoral rollers in almost all the voting tables observed.
“However, they were observed to loudly call the names of the voters so that the survey agents can know the identity of the incoming voters and associate it with their copy of the electoral lists with 49% of the polling stations observed,” he added.
