KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday won by-elections in Sindh Assembly constituency PS-115 and National Assembly Constituency NA-245, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results.
Geo News reported that MQM's Faisal Rafique won the seat of Sindh Assembly by securing 11,747 votes, while his rival from the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-H) bagged 1,074 votes.
Total number of voters registered in the constituency are 16,2614 and 83 polling stations were set up in the constituency for the by-election. Muhammad Kamal of MQM clinched National Assembly seat by securing 39,800, while Pakistan People's Party's candidate Shahid Hussain secured 3,200. Total number of registered voters stands at 40,9655 in in NA-245 where 227 polling stations were set up. Low turnout was observed in today's polls compared to general election of 2013.
The polling began at 8:00 a.m and continued without any interval till 5:00 p.m with a few reports of clashes between Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-H).
In a strange development, hours before the polling began, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate for NA-245 Amjadullah Khan announced to join MQM, withdrawing in favour of the party's candidate Muhammad Kamal.
The national and provincial assembly seats (NA-245 and PS-115) fell vacant after MQM’s Rehan Hashmi and Arshad Vohra tendered resignations.