- ANP’s Nisar Khan clinches victory in the PK-22 by-election with 11,926 votes.
- Independent candidate Najeebullah Khan secures second place, followed closely by JI’s Abid Khan.
- Voting concluded without interruption from 8am to 5pm in Bajaur district, KP.
In a significant electoral development, Nisar Khan, representing the Awami National Party (ANP), has won the by-election in KP’s Bajaur district’s PK-22 constituency. According to unofficial results released late Thursday night, Nisar Khan secured 11,926 votes, emerging as the frontrunner in a closely contested race.
Following closely behind, independent candidate Najeebullah Khan garnered 10,622 votes, while Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Abid Khan secured 10,593 votes, making it a competitive electoral outcome for the top positions.
Rahatullah Khan of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) secured the fourth position with 7,146 votes, reflecting the diverse electoral landscape of the region.
The by-election was necessitated after Mubarak Zeb Khan, the previous occupant of the KP assembly seat, was elected to the National Assembly, leaving PK-22 vacant.
Notably, polling activities commenced at 8am and continued until 5pm without any interruptions, ensuring a smooth electoral process for the constituency. PK-22 in Bajaur district has a total of 179,000 registered voters, comprising 99,000 males and 79,972 females.
This by-election marks the second electoral exercise in Bajaur within five months, following the general elections held earlier. The constituency had witnessed a postponement of the February 8 general elections due to the tragic death of candidate Rehan Zeb Khan during his election campaign.
In the subsequent April by-elections, Mubarak Zeb Khan, brother of the late Rehan Zeb Khan, emerged victorious with strong local support, winning both NA-8 and PK-22 seats decisively. His electoral success from NA-8, where he received 74,008 votes, and from PK-22 with 23,386 votes, underscored his popularity among voters in Bajaur.
Mubarak Zeb Khan’s decision to retain his National Assembly seat led to the vacancy in the PK-22 constituency, paving the way for the recent by-election where Nisar Khan’s victory now marks a pivotal moment in the region’s political landscape.