NA-66: PMLN’s Bilal Farooq elected unopposed in Wazirabad by-election

GUJRANWALA: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) candidate Bilal Farooq Tarar has been elected unopposed in the NA-66 Wazirabad by-election, according to officials. The returning officer confirmed on Saturday that Tarar’s victory notification has been issued and Form-34 has been forwarded to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for formal confirmation. The returning officer said that 30 individuals had initially submitted nomination papers for the seat.

However, eight candidates, including those from the Sunni Ittehad Council and Pakistan Peoples Party, withdrew their nominations, while the remaining candidates retired after the withdrawal period had lapsed.

The NA-66 seat fell vacant after the Election Commission of Pakistan de-seated Punjab PTI President MNA Ahmed Chattha in the wake of his conviction in the May 9 riots.

Several PTI lawmakers, including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul and others, were convicted by an anti-terrorism courts in various May 9 cases.