Senior PPP leader Sherry Rehman has alleged that the election results for Lahore’s constituency were manipulated, resulting in party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s loss to PML-N’s Attaullah Tarar. Rehman claimed that Bilawal was leading in the polls but the results suddenly changed, with Tarar securing 98,210 votes compared to Bilawal’s 15,005 votes in NA-127.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Rehman criticized the abrupt change in results and highlighted the suspension of mobile and internet services on polling day, which she believes affected voter turnout and candidate operations. She implied that the motive behind the mobile service shutdown was suspicious.
These concerns over election transparency coincide with PTI also questioning the fairness of the elections. Unofficial results show PTI-backed independent candidates leading, followed by PML-N and PPP candidates.
The 2024 elections have witnessed several political heavyweights facing defeats, including PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif losing to a PTI-backed candidate in the Mansehra constituency, though he won in the Lahore NA constituency against PTI’s Yasmin Rashid.
PML-N’s Ishaq Dar has claimed that independent candidates, victorious in the 2024 elections, are in contact with the party and may join within 72 hours, as per constitutional provisions. The situation remains fluid as election results continue to unfold.
