PESHAWAR, Nov 26 (APP):A quiet but decisive shift has taken place in the political landscape in Punjab and Khyber Pakthunkhwa where political heavyweight of PTI has lost to candidates of PMLN.
The recent by-elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces that have long shaped the country’s electoral direction have sent an unmistakable signal that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), once a dominant force in KP, has lost political ground as evident of Haripur by-election that comfortably win by PMLN Babar Nawaz Khan.
Experts said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has regained political space in KP with renewed confidence and better service in Punjab and Centre.
Experts said for PTI, which governed KP for nearly 12 years and held federal power from 2018 to 2022, the recent by-election outcome has been very negative in terms of its dwindling popularity and poor election results.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) confirmed that PML-N secured 12 out of 13 seats, with only one provincial seat in Muzaffargarh going to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) while PTI, notably, failed to secure a single seat in recent by-election.
The electoral contests spanned six National Assembly constituencies i.e. NA-18 Haripur, NA-96 Faisalabad, NA-104 Faisalabad, NA-129 Lahore, NA-143 Sahiwal, NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan along with seven provincial constituencies, including PP-73 Sargodha, PP-87 Mianwali, and PP-269 Muzaffargarh, among others.
These seats had largely fallen vacant after PTI lawmakers were disqualified following convictions linked to the May 9, 2023 protests. From urban centers in Lahore and Faisalabad to historically competitive districts like Haripur and Sahiwal, PML-N emerged the clear winner and outclassed PTI.
The provincial seat of Muzaffargarh was won by a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate.
From NA-143, Pakistan Muslim League (N) candidate Chaudhry Tufail Jutt has been elected as a Member of the National Assembly after securing 136,313 votes while NA-96 was clinched by PML-N’s Mohammad Bilal Badar after securing 93,009 votes while independent candidate Nawab Sher Waseer bagged 43,025 votes.
In NA-129 Lahore, Muhammad Noman from the PML-N secured 63,441 votes while an independent candidate came in at number two with 29,099 votes.
In Haripur’s NA-18 constituency, the PML-N’s Babar Nawaz Khan secured 163,996 votes while independent candidate Shehrnaz Omar Ayub, the wife of senior PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan, lost by securing 120,220 votes. PPP’s Iqbal Khan won the PP-269 Muzaffargarh assembly seat by securing 46,320 votes.
For political observers, these numbers were more than mere statistics rather they reflected a profound shift in public sentiment that will influence 2028 elections.
Professor Dr. A.H. Hilali, former Chairman of the Political Science Department at the University of Peshawar, believed the by election results held last Sunday have laid bare the public’s growing disillusionment with PTI, especially in KP-a province it once considered a stronghold.
“The recent by-elections in KP and Punjab showed that PTI has lost footing in both provinces while PML-N has gained ground,” he said. “People wanted solutions to their problems and better service delivery, something they felt PTI could no longer provide.”
Dr Hilali pointed to rising terrorism incidents including the attack on the Federal Constabulary headquarters as evidence of what he described as PTI’s lack of a clear anti-terrorism strategy.
Internal differences in PTI also hurt the party, he said, citing rifts among leadership in centre and KP, the removal of former KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and corruption allegations that clouded PTI’s image.
The by-election in Haripur’s NA-18—an area long influenced by PTI’s top leadership has sparked intense debate in KP’s political circles.
Dr. Ebad Khan, PML-N parliamentary leader in the KP Assembly, described PTI’s loss there as a crushing defeat and a sign of shifting political winds in favour of PMLN.
“PTI was discredited by the people of Haripur because it did not deliver on its promises,” he said. “It failed to build five million houses, did not provide 10 million jobs, and did not fulfill pledges made to the people of KP even after ruling here for a decade.”
He criticized PTI’s promise of constructing 350 dams in KP, calling it an unfulfilled commitment that left voters frustrated.
Education and healthcare which are two sectors repeatedly highlighted in PTI’s governance claims also became points of contention. “No uniform education system was introduced, school facilities remained inadequate, and patients in government hospitals continued to suffer in KP,” he added.
According to Dr. Ebad, PML-N’s track record in infrastructure development such as the Hazara Motorway and the Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital Swat offered a tangible contrast to PTI’s poor performance.
For PML-N leaders and supporters, the by-election results are more than a political win rather they represent a symbolic rebirth of stability.
Former Environment Minister Wajid Ali Khan described the outcome as a public endorsement of PML-N’s development-driven politics.
“People have once again honoured PML-N for its outstanding service to the nation,” he said. “The chapter of hatred, chaos, and unrest has ended, and a new era of service and progress has begun.”
He said the electorates had signaled that Pakistan’s future lies in development and economic progress, not discord.
The ballot box carries a message that only those who work will receive votes, he said, adding that the people of Pakistan needs a bright future and not conflict and disorder.
The by-elections results have not only reshaped provincial politics but may also influence national political equations in the coming months.
PTI’s absence from the winners’ circle in KP and Punjab regions that once formed the backbone of its electoral strength, raised critical questions about its future direction, internal unity, and ability to reconnect with voters.
Meanwhile, PML-N’s renewed momentum suggests it is positioning itself as a strong party capable of providing stability, governance experience, and infrastructural growth at a time when citizens are increasingly weary of political challenges.
For now, the message from voters appears clear that performance matters the most, and political goodwill must be earned anew and people welfare politics.
