By-election in Chichawatni: One-sided contests expected in NA-143 and PP-203
The by-elections for the National Assembly constituency NA-143 and Provincial Assembly constituency PP-203 in Chichawatni are scheduled to be held on November 23.
These seats fell vacant after PTI’s Rai Hassan Nawaz and Rai Murtaza Iqbal were disqualified following convictions in May 2024.
In the 2024 general elections, PTI’s Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan had won NA-143 with 147,147 votes, while the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), through a seat adjustment with PML-N, fielded Malik Nauman Langrial, who secured 32,121 votes.
PML-N’s Chaudhry Tufail Jutt, denied a party ticket, contested as an independent and obtained 83,480 votes, whereas former PML-N MNA Chaudhry Zahid Iqbal, also contesting independently, received 19,979 votes.
TLP’s Majid Hussain stood fourth with 17,629 votes.
For the upcoming by-election, 11 candidates have filed nomination papers, including:
- PML-N’s former MNA Chaudhry Tufail Jutt,
- former MNA Chaudhry Zahid Iqbal,
- PPP’s former MPA Shehzad Saeed Cheema,
- IPP’s Malik Falak Sher Langrial (son of Malik Nauman Langrial), and
- TLP’s Majid Hussain Sukhaira.
The PML-N has officially awarded its ticket to Chaudhry Tufail Jutt.
With reports suggesting that Chaudhry Zahid Iqbal and Shehzad Saeed Cheema are likely to withdraw their nominations, and with TLP’s participation uncertain due to the party’s ban, the contest appears one-sided.
Only IPP’s Malik Falak Sher Langrial remains a challenger, but he is considered a relatively weak candidate against Chaudhry Tufail Jutt.
Meanwhile, in Provincial Assembly constituency PP-203, PTI’s Rai Murtaza Iqbal had won the 2024 election with 55,874 votes, followed by PML-N’s Chaudhry Hanif Jutt (younger brother of Chaudhry Tufail Jutt) with 35,163 votes.
Independent Chaudhry Zahid Iqbal secured 16,416 votes, and TLP’s Majid Hussain got 12,744 votes.
In the by-election, ten candidates are contesting, including:
- PML-N’s former MPA Chaudhry Hanif Jutt,
- former MNA Chaudhry Zahid Iqbal,
- TLP’s Majid Hussain, and
- IPP’s Malik Falak Sher Langrial (former UC chairman).
The PML-N has given its ticket to Chaudhry Hanif Jutt, who is widely expected to secure an easy victory, as the PTI has announced a boycott of all by-elections.
Consequently, no PTI or Rai Group candidates have filed nomination papers in either constituency.
Report by:
Muhammad Siddique Sarfraz Chishti
Geo News, Chichawatni