Polling in PP-20 underway as PML-N, PTI battle for Chakwal provincial seat

CHAKWAL: With the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) battling to grab the Punjab Assembly seat in Chakwal, the polling for by-election in PP-20 began on Tuesday morning.

The polling began at 8:00am and will continue till 5:00pm without any break, election authorities said.

A neck to neck fight has been expected between PML-N candidate Chaudhry Sultan Haider and PTI’s Tariq Afzal.

The PP-20 remained a stronghold of the ruling party since 1985, but this time, it may be difficult for it to retain the seat owing to a host of reasons, including the crisis within the party after the disqualification of former prime minster Nawaz Sharif.

The PTI candidate is said to be enjoying the support of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

The seat fell vacant on Oct 30 after the death of PML-N MPA Chaudhry Liaqat Ali Khan.

The PPP fielded Nawab Taimoor but later withdrew its candidate in favour of PTI while the PAT did not field any candidate.

Nasir Abbas of Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) and two other candidates Imran Qaiser Abbas and Mohammad Tufail are also in the run.