MULTAN: Counting of votes underway after polling for bye-election in NA-148 Multan-1.

Syed Ali Qasim Gillani of PPP and independent candidate supported by Sunni Ittehad Council Taimoor Altaf are the leading candidates besides candidates of other parties.

Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani had vacated the seat after his election as Senator.

The polling for the NA-148 Multan by-election commenced under tight security measures on Sunday. Voting began at 8:00 AM and will continue uninterrupted until 5:00 PM.

Eight candidates from various political parties are competing for the seat vacated by Senator Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was sworn in as Senate Chairman. Political analysts anticipate a fierce contest between Ali Qasim Gilani of the Pakistan People’s Party, Taimur Altaf of the Sunni Ittehad Council, and Ahmed Hussain Dehr.

In the February 8 elections, Ahmed Hussain Dehr, running on a PML-N ticket, secured 57,989 votes. The Election Commission of Pakistan reports that there are 213,333 registered voters in the constituency, with 111,639 male voters and 101,694 female voters.

This constituency, previously known as NA-154 Multan-I in the 2018 elections, has been re-designated as NA-148 Multan-I. A comparison of the electoral rolls shows a decrease of 171,900 voters in 2024 compared to 2018.