JULY 17, 2022 WEB DESK PUNJAB BY-POLLS: COUNTING OF VOTE UNDERWAY AS POLLING ENDS Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Print LAHORE: Counting of votes is underway after polling in 20 constituencies of Punjab, which started at 8am today, has come to an end amid reports of clashes and arrests.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), people who are already inside the polling station will be allowed to cast their votes but no one will be allowed to enter after 5pm.
“As per election code of conduct, the media will be allowed to run unofficial results an hour after the polling ends which is 6pm,” the ECP added.
However, the electoral watchdog said, the results will remain unofficial until they have been announced by the returning officer.
The 20 Punjab Assembly seats were vacated after the PTI MPAs voted for Hamza Shahbaz in the Chief Minister (CM) elections. The results of the by-polls would be essential for the CM vote count, ordered by the Supreme Court (SC), in the Punjab Assembly in July 2022.
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) needs to win a total of 11 seats in today’s by-elections to gain a majority to elect their chief minister in the biggest province of the country.
