According to Form-47, PML-N candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar won the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election. He secured 87,789 votes in the contest.
Independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema finished second with 39,888 votes. The by-election was held on September 27, 2026.
The Returning Officer reported that 142,320 votes were polled in the constituency. Of these, 140,847 votes were declared valid.
The voter turnout stood at 29.46 percent. The result followed polling across the constituency after voting concluded peacefully.
The Form-47 result provides the official breakdown of votes received by the candidates. Channar contested the election as the PML-N nominee.
The NA-168 seat became vacant after the death of PML-N lawmaker Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar. His son was later selected by the party to contest the by-election.
Wali Dad Cheema contested as an independent candidate. He is the son of former federal minister and politician Tariq Bashir Cheema.
The by-election attracted attention because of the political backgrounds of both leading candidates. The contest also followed a campaign involving several political groups and local alliances.
The polling process began at 8am and was scheduled to continue until 5pm. Voters already inside polling stations were allowed to cast their ballots after the closing time.
Shehbaz Sharif Congratulates Channar
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Malik Munir Iqbal Channar after the result. He also congratulated Channar’s brother, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar.
The prime minister linked the result with the PML-N’s political support in the constituency. He also recalled the services of the late Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar.
Shehbaz Sharif said the late lawmaker had worked with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif for many years. He described his son’s victory as a continuation of public service.
The prime minister also praised voters in Bahawalpur for participating in the electoral process. He said they had elected their representative through the by-election.
NA-168 By-Election Background
The election campaign featured Malik Munir Channar and Wali Dad Cheema as the main contenders. Several political groups had different positions regarding the contest.
The PPP had decided not to field its own candidate and announced support for Channar. The PTI had announced a boycott of the by-election.
The constituency also witnessed a firing incident during the campaign. Three people were injured in the September 12 incident, according to reports.
The Form-47 result has now confirmed the final vote count from the NA-168 by-election. Malik Munir Channar has secured the seat for the PML-N.
The result marks the latest development in the Bahawalpur constituency. It also completes the electoral process for the National Assembly seat left vacant after Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar’s death.
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