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       ISLAMABAD: Instances of illegal campaigning and canvassing around polling stations, marked the by-election held for the district’s only Balochistan Assembly constituency PB-08 on November 17.

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       The seat fell vacant due to the death of Sardar Sarfraz Chakir Domki, who was elected to the seat in the 2024 general elections.

       The by-election also saw a boycott in the middle of polling by an independent candidate who alleged that the PPP candidate exerted undue influence during the campaign and on the election day.

       The ruling PPP retained the seat, with the boycotting candidate finishing as the runner-up.

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       According to an observation report by Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) voters in the Sibi district in Balochistan turned out in significant numbers to vote for their candidates.

       Although the voter turnout declined by five percentage points from 49 per cent during the GE-2024 to 44 per cent in by-election, it was still higher than the recent by-elections held in Punjab’s Rahimyar Khan (NA-171) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur (PK-22) where the turnout remained 36 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively.

       The number of invalid votes also decreased, dropping from 1,446 (three per cent of the polled votes) during GE-2024 to 533 (one per cent of the polled votes) in the by-election.

       Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2024