PTI Boycotts Polls Over May 9 Convictions, NA-129 Excluded

Highlights:

• PTI boycotts by-elections nationwide due to May 9 convictions

• NA-129 Lahore remains the only seat where PTI will contest

• 27 candidates submit papers for NA-129 by-poll

• By-election set for September 18, 2025

• High-profile candidates from PTI, PML-N, and PPP in the race

LAHORE – 6 August 2025: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has officially decided to boycott the upcoming by-elections across the country, excluding one key National Assembly seat in Lahore, citing political victimization and convictions related to the May 9 cases.

According to party insiders, the decision was made following internal consultations. PTI leadership has reportedly instructed its candidates to withdraw their nomination papers from all constituencies except NA-129 (Lahore), which was left vacant following the recent death of senior politician Mian Azhar.

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PTI Withdraws from All Contests Except NA-129

Sources within the party confirmed that no by-election will be contested by PTI on Punjab Assembly seat PP-87 or NA-66, both of which are also vacant. However, the party has opted to remain in the race for NA-129, a strategic constituency in Lahore.

Notably, the PTI-backed opposition leader had initially submitted nomination papers for PP-87, but following the central leadership’s decision, he will now withdraw.

The move is being viewed as a political protest against ongoing legal proceedings stemming from the May 9 incidents, where several PTI leaders and supporters were charged and convicted after violent protests.

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27 Candidates in the Race for NA-129 Lahore

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has released a provisional list of candidates for NA-129 (Lahore), where a total of 27 nomination papers has been submitted ahead of the by-poll scheduled for September 18.

From PTI, key figures such as Hammad Azhar, Owais Anjum, and Mian Jameel have filed their candidacies for NA-129, indicating the party’s focused strategy on retaining this key urban seat.

Rival political parties have also fielded strong candidates. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has nominated Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan and Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman, while Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has nominated Tahira Jalib, daughter of revolutionary poet Habib Jalib, and Asif Nagra.

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NA-129 By-Election Set for September 18

The NA-129 seat became vacant after the death of Mian Azhar, a veteran political figure and former governor of Punjab. The constituency is expected to witness a high-profile electoral battle, given its political importance in Lahore’s urban political landscape.

The ECP is expected to release the final list of candidates after the scrutiny and withdrawal phases, as per the official by-election schedule.

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