ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Sunday stated that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was boycotting the majority of constituencies in the by-elections, cautioning that the move was bound to carry political repercussions.
Talking to media after attending the 29th National Age Group Swimming Championship (Boys) 2025 and the 24th Championship (Girls), he expressed the confidence that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will secure a clear lead.
Tarar stated that political boycotts carry inevitable costs, emphasizing there was no room for such decisions in democratic practice.
He noted that the strong voter turnout in the by-elections signaled public confidence in the government’s performance, adding that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) appeared poised to secure a clear lead.
He noted that the Sunday’s by-elections witnessed a robust voter turnout, with citizens from across social and economic divides stepping forward to exercise their democratic right.
In Lahore, unusually large crowds gathered at polling camps, while Dera Ghazi Khan reported a steady flow of voters throughout the day. Elderly citizens, young people and women turned out in significant numbers, reflecting broad public participation in the electoral process, he said.
Tarar stated that the PML-N candidate enjoyed a strong position in Lahore, with party teams actively involved throughout the polling process. He further noted that voter turnout for the party has been highly encouraging across Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan.
He observed that even long-silent voters returned to the polls, attributing their renewed participation to the government’s performance. He further highlighted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership is earning recognition both at home and abroad, while Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has delivered notable achievements within the province.
He stated that Pakistan’s armed forces enjoyed global recognition for their capabilities, while the country’s economy had also drawn international appreciation. He expressed the confidence that today’s election would be decided on the basis of performance and delivery.
Responding to a query on the Indian aircraft crash at the Dubai Airshow, the minister said investigations were underway and cautioned that it was too early to draw conclusions. He noted that, at this stage, it remained unclear whether the incident was the result of a technical fault or another cause.