KARACHI: According to unofficial and unconfirmed results, Pakistan People’s Party candidate Abdul Hakeem Baloch won NA-258 by-elections by securing 80,196 votes.
Voting for by-elections in NA-258 constituency of Malir District started at 8 am and continued by 5 pm without any interruption. Strict security measures were taken in the constituency to avoided any untoward incident.
The national assembly seat fell vacant after PML-N MNA Abdul Hakeem Baloch quit the party and joined PPP.
The PML-N did not field its candidate in the by-election. Three other parties the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the outlawed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat announced boycott of the by-election accusing the provincial government of pre-poll rigging.
Excluding the three boycotting parties, a total of 11 candidates are in the run, Mr Baloch, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl`s Maulana Akram Shah and Shah Waliullah of the Muttahida Deeni Mahaz. Eight of the candidates are independent.
An official said that voter turnout was witnessed very low, less than 20 percent that showed the lack of interest of general public of the constituency.
There are 408163 registered voters in the constituency, which includes 241792 male and 166821 female voters. Election Commission of Pakistan had announced the by-election on November 22 but later the date extended to November 24 due to administrative reasons.
The election was again rescheduled after Sindh Rangers Director General Major General Bilal Akbar had informed the ECP that the para-military force was busy in the arrangements of IDEAS-2016 exhibition.
