2013 Pakistani By-elections

On May 11, 2013, Pakistan held by-elections to fill 10 vacant seats in each of the four provincial assemblies and 29 vacant seats in the country's National Assembly. Following the 2013 general elections, in which the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won the most seats in the National Assembly (166), the elections were held.

The 2013 Pakistani by-elections were held for 15 various seats in the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies. The by-elections were held to fill the seats vacated by the death, resignation, or disqualification of the elected representatives.

The PML-N government had been in power for a little over a year, and the by-elections were widely considered as a referendum on its performance. 18 of the 29 seats in the National Assembly and 7 of the 10 open seats in the provincial assemblies were won by the PML-N. Six seats in the National Assembly and two in the provincial assemblies were gained by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) won 2 National Assembly seats.

Allegations of rigging and violence plagued the by-elections. Violence associated with the elections claimed at least 12 lives. Due to irregularities, the Pakistani Election Commission (ECP) rejected the results for two National Assembly seats.

The PML-N's position in the government was bolstered by the results of the by-elections, which gave it a solid majority in the National Assembly. The violence and claims of vote-rigging, however, cast a shadow over the polls and called into doubt the legitimacy of Pakistan's electoral system.

Background

On May 11, 2013, there were general elections. In the National Assembly, the PML-N gained 166 members, followed by the PPP with 33 seats and the MQM with 26 seats. PTI won 25 seats, or Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

The 29 seats in the National Assembly and the 10 seats in the provincial assemblies up for grabs in the by-elections were vacated for a number of reasons, including as the demise of the incumbent member, their resignation, or their disqualification.

By-Elections by date

By-election 2013 held at various dates in different constitutions;

12-Feb-2018

On the date of 12-Feb-2018 By-election 2013 held in NA-154 Lodhran-1 constitutions.

16-Jul-2017

On the date of 16-Jul-2017 By-election 2013 held in NA-260 Queta-cum-chagai-cum-Nushki-cum-mustang constitutions.

17-Sep-2017

On the date of 17-Sep-2017 By-election 2013 held in NA-120 Lahore-iii constitutions.

26-Oct-2017

On the date of 26-Oct-2017 By-election 2013 held in NA-4 Peshawar IV constitutions.

7-Apr-2016

On the date of 7-Apr-2016 By-election 2013 held in NA-245 Karachi VII central constitutions.

17-Mar-2016

On the date of 17-Mar-2016 By-election 2013 held in NA-153 Multan VI constitutions.

18-Jan-2016

On the date of 18-Jan-2016 By-election 2013 held in NA-218 Matiari-cum-Hyderabad constitutions.

19-Sep-2016

On the date of 19-Sep-2016 By-election 2013 held in NA-162 Sahiwal - iii constitutions.

22-Mar-2016

On the date of 22-Mar-2016 By-election 2013 held in NA-101 Gujranwala-VII constitutions.

28-Apr-2016

On the date of 28-Apr-2016 By-election 2013 held in NA-267 Kachhi-cum-jhal magsi constitutions.

28-Nov-2016

On the date of 28-Nov-2016 By-election 2013 held in NA-258 Karachi-XX malir cum-Karachi west constitutions.

8-Jun-2015

On the date of 8-Jun-2015 By-election 2013 held in NA-108 Mandi bahaudin-i constitutions.

11-Oct-2015

On the date of 11-Oct-2015 By-election 2013 held in NA-122 Lahore-V and NA-144 Okara ii constitutions.

15-Mar-2015

On the date of 15-Mar-2015 By-election 2013 held in NA-137-Nankana sahib iii constitutions.

16-Aug-2015

On the date of 16-Aug-2015 By-election 2013 held in NA-19 haripur constitutions.

23-Apr-2015

On the date of 23-Apr-2015 By-election 2013 held in NA-246 Karachi Viii Central constitutions.

23-Dec-2015

On the date of 23-Dec-2015 By-election 2013 held in NA-154 Lodhran-i constitutions.

6-May-2014

On the date of 6-May-2014 By-election 2013 held in NA-202 Shikarpur constitutions.

12-May-2014

On the date of 12-May-2014 By-election 2013 held in NA-46 Triabl area XI , khyber agency constitutions.

16-Oct-2014

On the date of 16-Oct-2014 By-election 2013 held in NA-149 Multan -ii constitutions.

23-Jan-2014

On the date of 23-Jan-2014 By-election 2013 held in NA-69 Khushab-i constitutions.

18-Sep-2013

On the date of 18-Sep-2013 By-election 2013 held in NA-25 DIK constitutions.

22-Aug-2013

On the date of 22-Aug-2013 By-election 2013 held in 15constitutions,
# NA-1 Peshawar I
# NA-5 Nowshera-1
# NA-13 Swabi ii
# NA-27 Lakki Marwat
# NA-48 Islamabad i
# NA-68 Sargodha-V
# NA-71 Mianwali i
# NA-83 Faislabad ix
# Na-103 hafizabad II
# NA-129 Lahore XII
# NA-177 Muzafarabad ii
# NA-235 Sanghar-cum-Mirpurkhas-cum-Umarkot
# NA-237 thatta i
# NA-254 Karachi XVI east-cum malir
# NA-262 Killah abdulah

Results

The results of the by-elections were as follows:

* National Assembly
** PML-N: 18 seats
** PPP: 6 seats
** MQM: 2 seats
** PTI: 1 seat
** Independent: 2 seats
* Provincial assemblies
**Punjab Assembly: PML-N: 7 seats
**Sindh Assembly: PPP: 2 seats
**Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly: PTI: 1 seat
**Balochistan Assembly: Independent: 1 seat

Violence and allegations of rigging

Violence associated with the elections claimed at least 12 lives. There was violence throughout the nation, notably in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.

Additionally, there were claims that the by-elections had been rigged. The PML-N was accused of manipulating the elections by the PPP and the MQM. Due to anomalies, the ECP invalidated the results for two seats in the National Assembly.

Impact

The PML-N's position in the government was bolstered by the results of the by-elections, which gave it a solid majority in the National Assembly. The violence and claims of vote-rigging, however, cast a shadow over the polls and called into doubt the legitimacy of Pakistan's electoral system.

Read More

* 2013 Pakistani general election
* List of members of the 14th National Assembly of Pakistan

References

{{Pakistani elections

By-elections in Pakistan