PML-N candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar has won the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election, successfully retaining the National Assembly seat for the ruling party. The victory follows the death of his father, former PML-N lawmaker Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, who passed away in August.
Unofficial results from all 292 polling stations show Munir Iqbal securing 79,306 votes. Independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema finished second with 42,623 votes. Voting took place on Sunday from 8am to 5pm without any interruption. The constituency has more than 483,000 registered voters.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Munir Iqbal on the win and described the result as a clear expression of public confidence in the PML-N. The prime minister also felicitated Munir Iqbal’s brother, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar, on the successful outcome.
Shehbaz recalled that the late Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar had remained loyal to the PML-N and its leader Nawaz Sharif for many years. He said the senior leader had rendered valuable services to the party, and the victory of his son reflects the continuation of that political loyalty and public service.
The result brings the Channar family back to the National Assembly seat. In the 2024 general election, Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar had won the same constituency for the PML-N with 124,529 votes. The family has maintained a strong presence in both national and provincial politics. Geo News earlier reported that the PML-N had awarded a National Assembly ticket to Iqbal Channar and a Punjab Assembly ticket to his son Zaheer Iqbal Channar ahead of the 2024 polls.
Munir Iqbal previously served as deputy mayor of Bahawalpur Municipal Corporation before receiving the party ticket for this by-election. The contest mainly remained between Munir Iqbal and Wali Dad Cheema, who is the son of former federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema. The Pakistan Peoples Party withdrew its candidate during the campaign and announced support for the PML-N nominee.
Voters in Bahawalpur turned out to participate in the democratic process and elect their representative. The smooth conduct of the by-election and the clear margin of victory have been welcomed by party leaders as a positive sign of continued public trust in the PML-N at the constituency level.
