PML-N retains NA-168 as Malik Munir Iqbal Channar wins Bahawalpur by-poll

PML-N candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar has won the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election, retaining the National Assembly seat for the ruling party following the death of his father, Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar.

Unofficial and unconfirmed results from all 292 polling stations show Munir Iqbal securing 79,306 votes, well ahead of independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema, who polled 42,623 votes.

Voting began at 8am on Sunday and continued until 5pm without interruption. The constituency has more than 483,000 registered voters.

The seat had fallen vacant following the death of PML-N lawmaker Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in August. His son was subsequently given the PML-N ticket to contest the by-election.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Munir Iqbal on his victory, describing the result as an expression of the people’s confidence in the PML-N.

The prime minister also felicitated Munir Iqbal’s brother, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar, on the election result.

Shehbaz said the late Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar had remained loyal to PML-N and its leader Nawaz Sharif for a long period and had rendered valuable services to the party.

He said the victory of his son reflected the continuation of that political loyalty and public service.

“Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar rendered valuable services to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, and the victory of his son is a reflection of the continuation of that loyalty and public service,” the prime minister said.

Shehbaz also praised voters in Bahawalpur for participating in the democratic process and electing their representative.

The result marks the return of the Channar family to the National Assembly seat. In the 2024 general election, Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar won NA-168 for the PML-N with 124,529 votes.

The Channar family has also maintained a presence in provincial politics. Geo News reported ahead of the 2024 general election that the PML-N had awarded a National Assembly ticket to Iqbal Channar and a Punjab Assembly ticket to his son Zaheer Iqbal Channar.

Munir Iqbal, meanwhile, had previously served as deputy mayor of Bahawalpur Municipal Corporation before securing the PML-N ticket for the NA-168 by-election.

The contest in NA-168 had largely centred on Munir Iqbal and Wali Dad Cheema, the son of former federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema. 

The Pakistan Peoples Party had withdrawn its candidate and announced support for the PML-N nominee during the campaign.