The by-election for NA 171, held in Rahim Yar Khan, has sparked controversy following allegations of irregularities and concerns about the election process. According to recent reports, PTI leader Aun Abbas Bapi has raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the by-election. Bapi claims that on polling day, 70 of their polling agents were forcibly removed from the polling stations, leaving the PPP camps virtually unattended throughout the day. Additionally, Bapi alleges that 70% of the presiding officers in the constituency were replaced just three days before the election, casting further doubt on the fairness of the process. Early results from the polling stations indicated an alarming disparity, with only 2 out of 2200 votes initially counted going to PTI. Despite these allegations, preliminary unofficial results suggest that the PPP candidate has a commanding lead.

As per the results from 295 out of 301 polling stations, the PPP candidate has garnered 109,000 votes, while the PTI candidate has received over 57,000 votes. The by-election was conducted under heightened security, with a total of 2,700 police personnel deployed and Section 144 imposed to ensure order. Rahim Yar Khan observed a public holiday for the elections, and CCTV cameras were installed at various polling stations. Out of the 301 polling stations, 62 were designated as sensitive, and both the Elite Force and QRF troops were on standby. The seat in NA 171 became vacant following the death of the former PTI MNA, leading to a competitive race between PPP's Makhdoom Tahir Rashiduddin and PTI's Hasan Mustafa Advocate. The final results of the by-election are awaited, but the reported discrepancies have raised questions about the electoral process and fairness of the by-election.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan