2024 Pakistani by-elections

The 2024 Pakistani by-elections were held on 21 April 2024 to fill 21 vacant seats in National and Provincial Assemblies. The elections were characterized by extensive security measures, including the deployment of Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces.

Background
The by-elections were scheduled after the 2024 Pakistani general election. These seats fell vacant due to various reasons such as candidates winning multiple seats or delay in polling due to the death of a candidate. By-elections were held on 5 seats of National Assembly, 12 seats of Punjab Assembly, two seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and two seats of Balochistan Assembly.

Security measures
The federal government approved the deployment of Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces personnel during the by-elections. These forces functioned as a quick response force, deployed as a second and third tier behind the police. The exact number of troops and their deployment areas were determined by the ECP in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

About 13,800 police personnel were deployed to guard 921 polling stations. The ECP mandates security personnel, excluding the armed forces deployed in by-elections, to maintain impartiality, assist officers, ensure peace, avoid clashes, arrests or interference, report irregularities and, in particular, conduct counting. Instructed to maintain neutrality during the process.

Communication suspension
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced that cellular service will be temporarily suspended in certain districts of Punjab and Balochistan on April 21 and 22 during the by-elections. The move was directed by the Ministry of Interior and aimed at ensuring the integrity and security of the electoral process.

NA-8 Bajaur
The general elections for Bajaur NA-8 had been postponed because of the murder of a candidate,Rehan Zeb Khan.

NA-44 Dera Ismail Khan-I
NA-44 Dera Ismail Khan, the constituency was vacated by Ali Amin Gandapur, who retained his provisional assembly seat to become KP’s chief minister.

NA-119 Lahore-III
Lahore’s NA-119 was vacated by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who preferred to become an MPA from PP-159

NA-132 Kasur-II
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif won polls for two NA. He left the NA-132, Kasur and retained NA-123, Lahore

NA-196 Qambar Shahdadkot-I
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari won two seats in the NA. He retained NA-194, Larkana, seat and left NA-196, Qamber Shahdadkot, seat vacant

PP-22 Chakwal-cum-Talagang
Ghulam Abbas retained NA-53, Rawalpindi, seat and left PP-22 seat.

PP-32 Gujrat-VI
Chaudhry Salik Hussain retained NA-64 and vacated PP-32, Gujrat, seat.

PP-36 Wazirabad-II
PP-36, Wazirabad, seat fell vacant after Muhammad Ahmad Chattha did not take oath

PP-54 Narowal-I
PP-54, Narowal, seat fell vacant as PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal did not take oath. He preferred to retain NA-76, Narowal

PP-139 Sheikhupura-IV
PP-139, Sheikhupura, fell vacant because PML-N’s Rana Tanveer did not take oath

PP-147 Lahore-III
Hamza Shehbaz did not take oath for PP-147, Lahore

PP-149 Lahore-V
PP-149, Lahore, fell vacant because of IPP’s Aleem Khan not taking oath

PP-158 Lahore-XIV
PM Shehbaz Sharif won polls for two NA and two provincial legislature seats. He left the NA-132, Kasur, as well as Lahore’s PP-158 and PP-164 seats vacant, and retained NA-123, Lahore, seat.

PP-266 Rahim Yar Khan-XII
The polls for PP-266, Rahim Yar Khan, were postponed because of the death of a candidate.

PP-290 Dera Ghazi Khan-V
The PP-290, Dera Ghazi Khan, was declared vacant after Awais Leghari did not take the oath

PK-22 Bajaur-IV
The general elections for NA-8, Bajaur, and PK-22, Bajaur, were postponed because of the murder of a candidate, Rehan Zeb Khan

PK-91 Kohat-II
Elections were scheduled to be held on 8 February 2024 but postponed due to death of an Independent candidate.