In NA-168 by-elections in Pakistan scheduled for September 27, two major candidates are emerging: PML-N’s Malik Munir Iqbal Channar and independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema. The election is complicated by the death of the previous PML-N lawmaker, sympathy for his family, and the PTI's decision to boycott it. PPP has withdrawn its candidate in support of PML-N’s Channar, while Wali Dad Cheema is trying to gain support from PTI sympathizers despite the party’s official stance against participating.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election took place on September 27, with PML-N's Malik Munir Iqbal Channar facing independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema. The seat became vacant after the death of sitting MNA Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in August. Voting began at 8 AM and ended at 5 PM, with extensions allowed for voters already present within polling station boundaries.
The election saw a mix of support dynamics, with PPP withdrawing its candidate to back Channar under a coalition agreement, while PTI decided not to participate due to current circumstances. The total electorate numbered 483,143 people, including 248,259 men and 234,614 women, spread across 292 polling stations.
Despite minor disruptions, such as a brawl in Akhtarabad that briefly halted voting, the process concluded largely peacefully. According to unofficial results, Channar secured 62,713 votes compared to Cheema's 31,293 votes, indicating PML-N’s likely retention of the seat.
Written for “NA-168 By-election Results” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
The Bahawalpur NA-168 by-election has turned into a contest between PML-N’s Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, the son of the deceased lawmaker, and independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema, the son of former federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema.
asserted
election → turn → Cheema
The polling on the constituency is scheduled for Sept 27 in which sympathy following the death of sitting PML-N MNA Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, demands for a separate province and the PTI’s decision to boycott the election have emerged as key features of the by-election.
asserted
sympathy → schedule → election
Whereas, the PPP had also withdrawn its candidate and announced support for Mr Channar, while other political and religious groups have also extended support to him.
asserted
groups → withdraw → him
PPP leader Syed Ali Haider Gillani, while addressing the media, said that they were supporting PML-N under the coalition agreement.
asserted
they → address → agreement
He said that PML-N had also not fielded its candidate on the seat won by the PPP in the 2024 election.
asserted
N → say → election
On the other hand, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had said the party would not participate in any electoral process under the current circumstances.
asserted
party → say → circumstances
The decision has left the party without a candidate in the constituency despite its candidate Samiullah Chaudhry being the runner-up to the late Mr Channar in the 2024 general elections.
asserted
Chaudhry → leave → elections
Independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema has been openly appealing to PTI supporters and sympathisers to vote for him.
asserted
Cheema → appeal → him
Addressing a gathering, Mr Cheema said he had entered the contest because of the PTI boycott, otherwise the PML-N candidate would have won without an election.
asserted
candidate → address → election
He said that he needed PTI supporters’ backing to win the contest.
asserted
he → say → contest
PTI has announced boycott of elections, while PPP has withdrawn its candidate in support of PML-N
However, PTI leaders from different areas of Punjab have subsequently posted videos on social media rejecting claims that the party or its supporters were backing the Cheema group.
uncertain
party → announce → group
They have urged their supporters to abstain from voting.
asserted
They → urge → voting
Several voters interviewed by Dawn said the death of Mr Channar has generated sympathy for his family and could translate into support for his son.
uncertain
death → interview → son
A voter, Mustafa Khan, said the Channar clan appeared united behind the PML-N candidate following the death of his father.
asserted
clan → say → father
“Although the candidate was not very popular among the masses and his father had not given him a provincial assembly ticket, his position is still good,” he said.
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he → give → ticket
Mr Khan said Mr Tariq Bashir Cheema had not contested an election for around 18 years in this constituency and could therefore find it difficult to mobilise substantial support.
uncertain
it → say → support
He also referred to controversies surrounding Wali Dad Cheema.
asserted
He → refer → Cheema
Another voter, Khadim Hussain, said the demand for a Seraiki province could benefit the Channar candidate because the Cheema camp was campaigning for the restoration of the Bahawalpur province.
uncertain
camp → say → province
He said he would personally vote for a candidate who supported the demand for a Seraiki province.
asserted
who → say → province
Social activist Salman Bhadera also described Mr Channar’s position as favourable, saying PML-N local leaders and a group of around 15 MPAs were holding gatherings to mobilise support for the candidate.
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leaders → describe → candidate
He said people in Bahawalpur generally supported candidates who visited them and sought votes respectfully. He alleged that Mr Cheema and his supporters had adopted a confrontational approach and were issuing threats and challenging local political norms, which, he argued, could work against them.
uncertain
he → say → them
When asked about the possible disposition of PTI supporters, he said they were not fully prepared to support any particular candidate.
asserted
they → ask → candidate
According to Mr Bhadera, PML-N was seeking to mobilise its workers while Mr Cheema was attempting to consolidate support through his personal contacts and political groups.
uncertain
Cheema → accord → contacts
He said that only PTI was popular and the candidate who managed to get their support could win easily.
uncertain
who → say → support
On the other hand, Wali Dad Cheema and his father have repeatedly campaigned for restoring the Bahawalpur province and have maintained that Bahawalpur should be made a province regardless of whether the government created other provinces.
asserted
government → campaign → provinces
The issue has gained significance because the PPP, while supporting the PML-N candidate, has also publicly expressed support for the creation of new provinces, including a Seraiki province.
asserted
PPP → gain → province
For voters, however, the campaign remains centred on a combination of local representation, political alliances, provincial status and constituency-level concerns.
asserted
campaign → remain → representation
The Aporia
