Polling was held on Sunday in by-elections for National Assembly constituency NA-77 in Gujranwala and Punjab Assembly constituency PP-203 in Chichawatni, Sahiwal, with voting running from 8am to 5pm under tight security.

In NA-77, about 518,000 voters were eligible to vote across 333 polling stations, including 142 for men, 137 for women and 54 combined stations. Eleven candidates contested the seat, which fell vacant after the death of five-time National Assembly member Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk on 11 September. His son, Rashid Bashir Virk, contested on the PML-N ticket, with a close contest expected against Muhammad Ibrahim Gujjer of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League.

In PP-203, about 258,000 voters, including 122,000 women, were eligible to vote. Seven candidates contested the seat, left vacant by the death of PML-N member Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Jaat from a cardiac arrest on 17 September. His son, Asad Hanif Jaat, contested for the PML-N.

The Election Commission served code-of-conduct notices on three public office holders during polling — Punjab Assembly member Qudsia Batool, National Assembly member Saira Afzal Tarar and Parliamentary Secretary Shazia Rizwan — after reports they had visited polling stations in NA-77. The commission had already taken notice on Saturday of an alleged violation by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar during campaigning in the same constituency, and warned the result could be withheld until a final decision is reached. No finding of guilt has been made against any of the officials named.

The army and Punjab Rangers were deployed in both constituencies from 7 to 9 November. Counting was under way on Sunday evening, with early unofficial tallies reported by Samaa TV showing the PML-N candidate ahead in NA-77. Final results were awaited. The Destination reported polling under way on Sunday morning.