MULTAN: PPP candidate Abdul Qadir Gilani has won the by-election in NA-151 after the seat was left vacant following the disqualification of his father, former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.
According to unofficial results, in a close race, Gilani narrowly defeated independent candidate Shaukat Hayat Bosan by securing 64,628 votes.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), 245 polling stations had been set up across the Multan constituency out of which 64 had been declared sensitive while a public holiday was also declared in the backdrop of the by-election.
During polling, an open violation of the code of conduct set by the ECP was witnessed.
For the first time in history, the ECP had decided to provide transport to voters in the by-election for NA 151 in the light of June 8th decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The ECP had directed the District Election Commission Multan to provide transport to the voters during the by-election, however, candidates violated the ECP’s orders and provided transport to voters to bring them to polling stations.
Candidates also set up camps near polling stations which was also prohibited under the code of conduct.
Polling was also halted after a fight broke out between two groups of women at polling station number 231.