PPP's Ali Qasim takes clear lead against SIC's Taimur Alaf in Multan by-poll

• ECP says foolproof security arrangements made.
• Election monitoring centre established, it adds. 
  
• CCTV also installed at sensitive polling stations.

MULTAN: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Syed Ali Qasim Gillani took the lead in Multan's NA-148 by-election by securing 78,270 followed by Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate Taimur Altaf Malik who received 47,793 votes, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results of 250 polling stations out of total 275.

Voting began at 8am and continued till 5pm without any interval. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and district administration of Multan said they had completed all the arrangements for fair election.

As many as 444,231 voters were eligible to exercise their right of vote in the election wherein 275 polling stations were established.

A spokesperson for ECP Punjab said foolproof security arrangements had been made at polling stations while surveillance cameras and walk-through gates have also been installed at the sensitive polling stations.

Eight candidates including the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) leader Barrister Taimur Altaf Malik and Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Ali Qasim Gillani are vying for the seat. 

The National Assembly seat had fallen vacant after election of Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani as a senator. In a neck and neck competition with Malik, Gillani had won the seat in general elections 2024.

Meanwhile, the ECP spokesperson said an Election Monitoring and Control Centre had been established for public’s facilitation, where they could register their complaints regarding the ongoing polling.

“Immediate action will be taken for timely resolution of the complaint. Trained staff has been posted at the centre. The control centres have been set up at four levels for quick registration and addressal of people’s complaints,” the spokesperson said.

The ECP official said the EMCC had been established at the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad as well as provincial, divisional and district levels.