Syed Ali Kasim Gilani, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate, triumphed in the NA-148 Multan-I by-election against Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate Barrister Taimur Altaf Mahay by a wide margin, as reported on Monday.
The by-election was held for the seat vacated by Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani’s resignation.
Read: Polling Underway in NA-148 Multan By-Election Amid Tight Security
According to unofficial results, Gilani received 89,097 votes, while Mahay secured 53,572 votes, resulting in a 35,525-vote lead for the PPP candidate.
The election process was peaceful, with stringent security measures. No incidents were reported despite police designating 69 polling stations as “sensitive”.
Pakistan Army and Punjab Rangers personnel patrolled the sensitive areas throughout the day. CCTV cameras and walk-through gates were installed to monitor the polling stations.
However, polling staff reported a lack of basic facilities, such as cold water and fans. Poll monitoring bodies noted a low voter turnout due to the extreme heat.
Polling started at 8 am and ended at 5 pm without any interruptions.
The constituency, formerly NA-154 Multan-I in the 2018 elections, was re-designated as NA-148 Multan-I for the February 8 elections.
The Election Commission of Pakistan stated that 444,231 registered voters were in the constituency. The polling stations were staffed by 2,248 personnel, and 2,555 police officers ensured security.
Kasim’s victory has added to the Gilani family’s political legacy, with all male members now holding positions in the National Assembly, Punjab Assembly, and Senate.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, the family patriarch and former prime minister, currently serves as Senate chairman. His sons hold various positions: Syed Ali Musa Gilani from NA-151 Multan 4, Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani from NA-152 Multan 5, Syed Ali Kasim Gilani from NA-148 Multan 1, and Syed Ali Haider Gilani as MPA from PP-213 Multan-1.
