Bilawal thanks Umerkot voters as PPP's Saba Talpur wins NA-213 by-poll

• Saba Talpur gets over 148,000 votes in Umerkot by-election.
• CM Murad Ali Shah says the win reflects trust in PPP leadership.
• ECP urged to act on reported attacks on PPP workers.

HYDERABAD/KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the people of Umerkot for electing PPP’s Saba Talpur in the NA-213 (Umerkot-I) by-election held on Thursday, The News reported.

According to unofficial results from 448 out of 498 polling stations, Talpur secured 148,965 votes, defeating her rival Lal Malhi, who received 74,515 votes. Vote counting was still ongoing at the District Returning Officer’s office late into the night.

Bilawal hailed the victory of the female candidate as a significant moment in Umerkot’s political history. “Thank you, Umerkot! You have once again proven that ‘Mir jo, no Peer jo – Vote Benazir jo’,” he said, celebrating the win.

He further said the victory of Saba Talpur is not just a personal triumph, but a win for the voters of NA-213, a testament to public trust in the PPP, and a celebration of democracy itself. He added that the people of NA-213 have sent a strong message that the people of Sindh are politically aware and reject opportunists.

Bilawal congratulated Saba Talpur and hoped she would live up to the expectations of the people of her constituency and carry forward the legacy of public service set by former MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur.

He also lauded the dedicated PPP workers in NA-213, who worked tirelessly day and night over the past several weeks to ensure the success of the party’s candidate.

Bilawal urged the people to gather in Hyderabad today (April 18) to celebrate the victory. He said, “Today, Umerkot has shown the world where the people’s support lies — and tomorrow, Hyderabad will prove that the people stand firmly with the PPP.”

The total number of registered voters in NA-213 Umerkot is 608,957, including 321,686 men and 287,311 women. A total of 498 polling stations were set up for voters, including 302 combined, 98 male-only, and 98 female-only stations. Out of these, 91 polling stations were declared highly sensitive, 269 sensitive, and 169 normal.

Polling for the by-election continued uninterrupted from 8am to 5pm. According to the chief election commissioner of Sindh, voting at all 498 polling stations began on time and proceeded throughout the day in a peaceful environment.

The NA-213 Umerkot seat had become vacant following the death of Nawab Yousuf Talpur. According to Form 33, ballot papers were printed for 18 candidates.

On Thursday, the main contest was between Saba Talpur, widow of Nawab Yousuf Talpur, and independent candidate Lal Chand Malhi, who was backed by the PTI, GDA, and the Sindh Darya Bachao Committee Movement. Umar Jan Sarhindi of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan was also in the run.

During polling, Lal Chand Malhi spoke to media and alleged that rigging was taking place at the Ibrahim Rind polling station.

In response, the spokesperson for the Sindh Election Commission issued a clarifying press release, stating that the presiding officer had ordered PPP Union Council Chairman Amir Hasan Khaskheli to be removed from the polling station. Police acted immediately and escorted the chairman out of the polling station.

Meanwhile, at the polling station set up in Qazi Sultan Higher Secondary School in Kunri, supporters and polling agents of independent candidate Lal Chand Malhi alleged electoral fraud, claiming PPP voters were being given two ballot papers.

In Umerkot, a personal staff member of MPA Nawab Taimur Talpur lost his temper and assaulted a private TV journalist for recording a video of a scuffle outside a polling station. The video of the assault went viral. After attacking the journalist, the personal staff member of the lawmaker also snatched his mobile phone.

In the Basti area of Kunri Tehsil, Umerkot, the polling process was halted due to a fight between agents. After the 5pm, subsequently, under the supervision of the presiding officers, the counting process was initiated.

After the initial results, independent candidate Lal Chand Malhi staged a sit-in outside the District Returning Officer’s office to record his protest.

He told the media that government machinery had been used indiscriminately against him and that the Election Commission appeared helpless in front of the Sindh government.

He said the Sindh Election Commission had requested the deployment of Rangers for the by-election, but the recommendation was completely ignored. “I am protesting so that the entire country can see and hear how the PPP carries out rigging in Sindh,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the PPP moved a letter to the ECP against workers of the PTI and the GDA for allegedly attacking its Jiyalas in Umerkot.

Officials said the letter was written by Syed Waqar Mehdi, general secretary of the PPP-Parliamentarians in Sindh, to the ECP about attacks on supporters during the by-election at Polling Station No. 49, Government High School, Pithoro.

The PPP election cell wrote to the ECP that supporters came under attack by people belonging to the GDA and PTI candidate Lal Chand Malhi. 

The letter said several Jiyalas were injured in the attack and taken to Civil Hospital. It was also alleged that the aim of the attack was to affect the counting of votes.

The letter written to the chief election commissioner, Islamabad, reads: “With due respect it is submitted that a deadly attack on workers and supporters of Pakistan Peoples Party by the opponents belongs to GDA/PTI present outside Polling Station 261 (G.B.P.S Jamal Makhrani Municipal Umarkot) wherein a number of PPP workers and supporters have been injured just to disturb the smooth process of election which may cause serious law and order situation and it is also severe violation of Election Act 2017. Your kind Honour is requested to kindly take strict action in accordance with the law, in order to conduct free, fair and impartial elections.”

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also congratulated Saba Talpur on her clear lead in the elections. “I congratulate all the workers, PPP leadership and the people of Umerkot.”

The CM said the people of Umerkot had once again expressed their full confidence in the PPP and this victory was a manifestation of public service, transparent politics and faith in the leadership of the party.

He added that success is the result of the trust of the people, faith in democracy and the tireless work of the workers. He added that the PPP believes in public service, and we all have to work together for the development of the province and the country.

CM Shah said the success of the democratic process is actually the victory of the people. Under the leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the PPP is striving for the welfare of the people throughout Sindh, and this success is a symbol of this public trust.

The spokesperson for the PPP-Parliamentarians, Shazia Marri, greeted the PPP leadership and voters in NA-213 Umerkot on the party candidate’s victory in the by-election held in the constituency.

She said the voters had reposed confidence in the PPP by voting in favour of the party’s candidate Saba Talpur in the by-election. 

She said the candidate jointly fielded by the opposition parties was defeated at the hands of the courageous natives of Sindh. She said the people of Sindh had again rejected the GDA and PTI.

Marri said the natives of Sindh considered the PPP as their true representative party while other political entities were political orphans. She mentioned that the people of Sindh had a special relationship with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the Bhutto family.

Marri recalled that the PPP had always served the natives of Sindh. She said the Peoples Party had always remained steadfast in protecting the rights of the dwellers of Sindh. 

Whether it is any issue related to water or the development rights of the people, the party had always fought to secure these rights, she said, adding that the PPP leadership and public representatives had stood with the people in every natural calamity, including torrential rains and floods.