By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: Pakistan People’s Party candidate Barrister Asfandyar Kharal won the PS-30 Khairpur by-election with 49,820 votes, according to unofficial results, in a contest marked by low voter turnout.
Independent candidate Syed Tasawar Mehadi secured 1,352 votes, while the overall turnout remained around 22%. Female participation was particularly low, according to officials and local reports.
The seat fell vacant following the death of PPP MPA Naeem Ahmed Kharal. Four candidates contested the by-election, although the Grand Democratic Alliance did not field a candidate against the PPP nominee.
The polling process began on time across the Gambat constituency and remained largely peaceful. Minor clashes were reported at three polling stations but were brought under control by police, officials said.
Officials classified 64 polling stations as highly sensitive, 68 as sensitive and 32 as normal. Rangers were deployed at entry and exit points of the constituency as part of the security arrangements.
District Returning Officer Abdul Wahid Baloch said the election had been conducted peacefully and that no major untoward incident was reported at any polling station.
He said the Election Commission’s code of conduct was enforced during polling and that the administration and security agencies had taken measures to maintain law and order.
A total of 254,980 voters were registered in the constituency, including 133,037 men and 121,943 women, according to the DRO. The authorities had established 164 polling stations, comprising 53 for men, 52 for women and 59 combined stations.
Another 16 temporary polling stations were set up to deal with any emergency. There were 592 polling booths, including 302 for men and 290 for women.
PPP MNA Dr Mahreen Bhutto cast her vote at a polling station in Gambat. Speaking to reporters, she said the PPP believed in democracy and that voters had exercised their right in support of the democratic process.
The result marked a wider margin for the PPP compared with the 2024 general election. In that election, the late Naeem Ahmed Kharal had secured 57,000 votes, while GDA candidate Advocate Khalid Ahmed Shaikh received 26,713.
Khairpur Deputy Commissioner Altaf Ahmed Chachar and SSP Khairpur Capt (retd) Ameer Saud Magsi also visited polling stations during the voting process to review security and administrative arrangements.
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