Markazi Muslim League has rejected the NA-77 by-election results, alleging widespread rigging, missing ballot papers and violations of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) code of conduct.
At a press conference, party spokesperson Faisal Nadeem said Markazi Muslim League candidate Qazi Ibrahim Gujjar secured 25,377 votes across 283 polling stations, compared with about 24,000 for PML-N candidate Rashid Bashir.
He said the party believed Gujjar had won the constituency and would not accept the announced results.
Nadeem alleged that thousands of ballot papers went missing and were later used at other polling stations.
He also accused Punjab Police of campaigning in favour of the PML-N candidate and pressuring voters during the electoral process.
The party alleged irregularities by election staff, including some presiding officers failing to obtain voters’ thumb impressions.
Responding to a video shared by Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari, Nadeem said the individual shown in the footage was Presiding Officer Shahid, not a Markazi Muslim League worker.
He said the party possessed an audio recording related to the matter and was prepared to submit it for forensic examination.
The party demanded a recount at 50 polling stations and action against those allegedly involved in electoral irregularities.
Nadeem said the Markazi Muslim League would challenge the results before the Election Commission and courts and raise the matter at public forums.
The press conference was attended by NA-77 candidate Qazi Ibrahim Gujjar, Deputy Secretary General Khalid Naik Gujjar, Muslim Youth League President Tabish Qayyum, Punjab President Dr Muzammil Iqbal Hashmi, Engineer Haris Dar and other party leaders.
