LAHORE, NOV 10: Pakistan’s Punjab government on Tuesday questioned the participation of a political party linked to Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed in a parliamentary by-election, marking the first such public challenge by the provincial administration.
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and Saeed-linked Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) exchanged sharp remarks over the by-election in the NA-77 constituency of Gujranwala.
PML-N candidate Rashid Bashir Virk won the seat with more than 43,000 votes, defeating PMML candidate Muhammad Ibrahim Gujjar, who secured around 30,000 votes.
Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari criticised the PMML’s participation, questioning how organisations declared proscribed by the state could change their names and openly take part in political activities.
Describing the party’s participation as a major challenge to the state, Bokhari urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to take notice of what she termed the open political activities of organisations allegedly supported by terrorists.
She said the outcome reflected the victory of public service and performance over the narrative of violence and terrorism.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also criticised the opposition, saying that major rival groups in Gujranwala, including banned organisations and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had contested against the PML-N under different names.
Despite joining hands, she said, the rival groups suffered a decisive defeat.
The PMML, however, rejected the by-election results, alleging widespread rigging and violations of the election code of conduct.
The party’s participation has also drawn attention because of its reported past links with sections of Pakistan’s political establishment. Minister of State for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry had earlier visited the PMML office in Faisalabad and praised its work. Similarly, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan had publicly praised Hafiz Saeed during a rally.
During the four-day India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, senior Punjab government officials also attended the funerals of Jamaat-ud-Dawa members killed in Indian strikes on terror camps.
