Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Saba Talpur was declared the winner of the NA-213 Umerkot by-polls on April 18, 2025, securing 161,934 votes.
According to the results of Form 47, released by the Provincial Election Commission of Sindh, Saba Talpur defeated independent candidate Lal Chand Malhi, backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other parties, who garnered 81,160 votes. Despite a 42.99% voter turnout amid scorching heat, the election faced allegations of rigging from Malhi, prompting protests in Umerkot.
The by-polls, held on April 17, 2025, followed the death of PPP’s six-time MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur, Saba Talpur’s husband, on February 19, 2025. Of 608,997 registered voters, 261,784 cast their ballots across 498 polling stations, with 10,071 votes cancelled. The contest featured 18 candidates, including 15 independents. Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s Muhammad Umar Jan Sarhindi secured 3,653 votes, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s Lal Chand received 1,701 votes.
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party @BBhuttoZardari pays heartiest gratitude to the people of NA-213 (Umerkot-I) for the resounding victory of the PPP’s nominated candidate, Ms Saba Talpur.#NA213
Read More: https://t.co/G7ylOq6Y1x pic.twitter.com/mlB47Vtr5N
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) April 17, 2025Saba Talpur’s victory, with a margin of 80,774 votes, reinforces PPP’s dominance in Umerkot, a stronghold since Nawab Yousuf Talpur’s six terms from 1993 to 2024. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari celebrated the win as a “testament to public trust” in the party, urging supporters to gather in Hyderabad to mark the triumph.
Allegations of Rigging and Protests
Lal Chand Malhi, supported by PTI, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), JUI-F, and nationalist groups, rejected the results, alleging widespread rigging. He claimed his polling agents were kidnapped and tortured, vowing to challenge the outcome legally. Malhi called for a citywide strike on April 18, leading to partial closures in Umerkot and a sit-in outside the District Returning Officer’s office. Supporters blocked roads and burned tires, demanding an inquiry into the electoral process.
The PPP countered with accusations against Malhi, alleging PTI workers assaulted their supporters at a polling station. A Sindh Election Commission spokesperson clarified that a PPP official was removed from a polling station after rigging allegations, with police acting promptly. Despite these tensions, the election saw robust security, with 4,200 police and Rangers deployed across 498 polling stations, 91 of which were highly sensitive.
Read: Bilawal Bhutto Warns PML-N to Scrap Canal Project or Face PPP Exit
Saba Talpur’s win strengthens PPP’s grip on Sindh, which has long championed minority and rural communities. Bilawal hailed the victory as a milestone for female representation, while Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah called it a victory for democracy. However, the rigging allegations and protests highlight ongoing electoral disputes in Pakistan, with Malhi’s claims echoing broader concerns about transparency, as seen in the 2024 general elections.
The by-elections also reflect regional tensions, with opposition parties leveraging issues like the controversial canals project to challenge the PPP. Despite these challenges, PPP’s robust campaign, led by Talpur’s son Taimur and other family members, secured a decisive mandate.
