NA-168 Bahawalpur By-Election Result 2026: Malik Munir Iqbal Channar Wins

BAHAWALPUR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar has won the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results from all 292 polling stations.

Munir Iqbal Channar secured 79,306 votes, while independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema received 42,623 votes, according to the reported unofficial tally.

The NA-168 seat became vacant following the death of PML-N lawmaker Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in August. His son, Munir Iqbal Channar, was subsequently given the PML-N ticket for the by-election.

NA-168 Bahawalpur Election Result

The reported unofficial results are:

The reported figures show a difference of 36,683 votes between the two leading candidates.

Polling Details

Polling for the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election started at 8:00am and continued until 5:00pm on Sunday. Voters who were already within the boundaries of polling stations at closing time were allowed to cast their votes.

The constituency had 483,143 registered voters and 292 polling stations. The election authorities deployed polling staff across the constituency to manage the voting process.

The polling process was largely peaceful, although authorities reported some routine complaints. Voting was briefly disrupted at a polling station in Akhtarabad following a clash between voters, but officials and police brought the situation under control.

Why Was NA-168 Vacant?

The National Assembly seat became vacant after the death of Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in August 2026.

The PML-N then fielded his son, Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, in the by-election. His main rival was independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema, who is the son of former federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema.

The contest attracted attention because of the involvement of established political families in the constituency.

PPP Support and Other Political Developments

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) withdrew its candidate during the campaign and announced support for the PML-N nominee. Meanwhile, the contest largely developed around Munir Iqbal Channar and Wali Dad Cheema.

The PTI had announced that it would not participate in the electoral process under the circumstances at the time, while other political and religious groups also took positions during the campaign.

Security Arrangements

Security was tightened ahead of polling. The Punjab Home Department had requested the deployment of Army and Rangers personnel to help ensure a secure and peaceful election.

The election campaign had also witnessed an armed clash in Baqirpur on September 12, in which three people were injured, according to Rescue 1122 sources cited by Dawn.

Prime Minister Congratulates Munir Iqbal Channar

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Malik Munir Iqbal Channar on the reported victory.

The Prime Minister also congratulated Channar's brother, Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar, who is the Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker.

The Prime Minister said the result reflected voters' confidence in the PML-N, according to reports quoting the Prime Minister's Office.

NA-168 Bahawalpur By-Election FAQs

Who won the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election?

PML-N candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar won the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election according to unofficial and unconfirmed results from all 292 polling stations.

How many votes did Malik Munir Iqbal Channar get?

Malik Munir Iqbal Channar secured 79,306 votes according to the reported unofficial results.

How many votes did Wali Dad Cheema get?

Independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema received 42,623 votes according to the same unofficial tally.

Why was the NA-168 seat vacant?

The seat became vacant following the death of PML-N MNA Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in August 2026.

How many polling stations were there in NA-168?

There were 292 polling stations in the constituency.

Note: The vote figures cited above were reported as unofficial/unconfirmed results at the time of publication.