PML-N candidate Hina Arshad Warraich secures victory in PP-52 by-poll

• PM Shehbaz, CM Maryam Nawaz congratulate Warraich on victory.
• PTI-backed Fakhir Nishat Ghumman remained runner-up.
• PTI spokesperson alleges planned rigging in PP-52, Sambrial.
  

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Hina Arshad Warraich won the by-elections of PP-55 Sialkot constituency of the Punjab Assembly after obtaining 78,419 votes, as per unconfirmed and unofficial results.

Warraich's rival candidate, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed Fakhir Nishat Ghumman remained runner-up with 40,037 votes, according to the unofficial results from all 185 polling stations.

Polling continued from 8am to 5pm in the by-election for the provincial assembly seat PP-52 in Sambrial. There was chaos throughout the day during polling, with workers arguing and shouting slogans, while allegations of rigging were also made.

In a conversation with Geo News, PMLN candidate Hina Arshad said that the people elected her not for politics but for service. “I am standing at this position because of Maryam Nawaz. If the Punjab chief minister had not trusted me, I would not be standing here,” she said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated Warraich on her victory.

CM Maryam said that she would fully rely on the trust shown by the people of Sambrial.

She said that the success of PMLN is an expression of the people’s confidence in the government’s policies. The people have identified those who serve and those who spread sedition and mischief, the Punjab CM maintained.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram Sunday alleged planned rigging in PP-52, Sambrial, but said that they will not allow the mandate to be stolen again in the constituency, claiming his party was still in the lead.

He told a news conference here that voters in this constituency of Sialkot were with PTI.

Waqas said that this seat was won by PTI on February 8 and PTI is still in the lead today, vowing not to allow the mandate to be stolen again. “That is why people came out since morning, but the goons of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz resorted to hooliganism there,” he charged.