Hamza Shebaz of PML-N has surfaced the winner in a close contest for the post of Chief Minister Punjab, securing 179 votes to Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s 176.
By Naveed Naqvi
In the final round of an ongoing battle for Punjab, incumbent Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz and challenger Chaudhry Pervez Elahi are squaring up for a runoff poll. Who will surface the winner?
Will former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his allies get to use Punjab as a stepping stone to Islamabad? Or will Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s PDM coalition strghenthen its grip of power by securing Punjab?
Keep watching this space for updates as the situation develops.
Latest Updates
- Pakistan begins week-long polio vaccination campaign targeting 45 million children
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan launched a week-long polio vaccination campaign on Monday, targeting over 45 million children, with security tightened after recent attacks on health workers.
The campaign, the second of three planned for early 2025, involves 415,000 workers administering oral vaccine drops to children under five. It ranks among Pakistan’s largest public health efforts, reflecting its push to eliminate polio.
“A week-long anti-polio vaccination campaign begins across the country on Monday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. “During the drive, field teams of health department will go door to door to administer anti-polio vaccine drops to over 45 million children under the age of five years.”
Polio, a paralyzing disease with no cure, requires multiple vaccine doses for immunity. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last countries where it remains endemic. Pakistan recorded six cases in 2025 so far and 74 in 2024, a spike after years of decline.
Cases fell from 20,000 annually in the early 1990s to one in 2021, but the recent surge—74 in 2024 and six in 2025—underscores challenges in the eradication program started in 1994.
Vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners, who claim immunization is a foreign conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a guise for Western espionage, have hindered efforts. Militant groups have also repeatedly targeted polio workers, posing a significant threat to the campaign.
On Monday, attackers fired on a police escort for a vaccination team in Wana, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, with one assailant killed.
“One terrorist was killed while the others managed to flee the scene,” local media quoted Habib Islam, a police spokesman for the Lower South Waziristan district, as saying.Policemen and vaccinators remained unhurt. “Additional personnel and armored vehicles have been deployed to conduct a thorough search operation in the area and to ensure the security of polio vaccination teams,” Islam added.
Last week, gunmen abducted two polio workers in KP. In 2024, 20 people died and 53 were injured in KP during anti-polio efforts. Security has since been bolstered.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Sunday, officially launched the campaign in Islamabad, expressing optimism about its outcome.
“Through our collective efforts, we will be successful in this campaign,” he said, thanking international partners like the World Health Organization and the Bill Gates Foundation. “We are grateful for your support, and I want to assure you that we will achieve a roaring success.”
He urged parents to cooperate, adding, “I request parents throughout the country to help us and the teams in the field to make this campaign a success.”
The government remains hopeful, as no new polio case has been reported in over two months, with the last case recorded on February 10, 2025.
- What next?
The victory of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Hamza Shahbaz in today’s runoff election has closed the door to former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s fightback to power for now.
However, there are signs Khan’s party will move court over the matter. His supporters in the provincial assembly vociferously the speaker over the rejection of PML-Q votes, and said they would move court.
As well, the firebrand Khan and his followers are likely to cry foul over the outcome, hurling all kinds of nasty allegations all around. All in all, we are all set to descend into a political turmoil afresh.
This is a wrap for our liveblog on Punjab CM’s runoff election. Thank you very much for following us.
- Hamza Shehbaz elected CM Punjab
Hamza Shehbaz Sharif has won the runoff election for the position of Chief Minister Punjab securing 169 voters compared with 176 obtained by Chaudhry Pervez Elahi elected CM Punjab.
- What does the Supreme Court order say?
The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) ruling that Pakistan Democratic Front (PDM) strategy in today’s runoff election for Punjab Chief Minister relies on says, “the vote of any member (including a deemed member) of a Parliamentary Party in a House that is cast contrary to any direction issued by the latter in terms of para (b) of clause (1) of Article 63A cannot be counted and must be disregarded, and this is so regardless of whether the Party Head, subsequent to such vote, proceeds to take, or refrains from taking, action that would result in a declaration of defection.”
- Deputy Speaker Mazari rejects PML-Q votes
In preparation for announcing the results, Deputy Speaker Mazari is reading Chaudhry Shujaat’s letter to him. The letter lists all 10 members of PML-Q, and instructs them to vote for Hamza Shehbaz, the PML-N candidate.
He has rejected all ten votes of PML-Q in light of the letter in pursuance of the Supreme Court order.
- Bells tolling again for announceming of result
Counting of votes has also been completed. The results will now be presented to Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari, who will announce the final result shortly. Bells are tolling for all members to return to the hall.
- Voting finished, counting underway
The process of voting in the runoff election for the Chief Minister of Punjab has been completed, and the assembly staff have started counting the votes. All members of the PML-Q have cast their votes along with their PTI colleagues.
All eyes are not on Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari, who can not only invalidate the votes of PML-Q members but also de-seat them.
- Ata Tarar contradicts PML-Q parliamentary party meeting claim
Punjab Interior Minister Ataullah Tarar has contradicted Moonis Elahi’s claim of a PML-Q parliamentary party meeting last evening. He said no such meeting took place, and the letter being passed around as written by Sajid Bhatti seems to be “faked” today.
- Protest outside Chauhdry Shujaat’s residence
As voting is underway in the Punjab Assembly for a runoff election for the post of Chief Minister, workers of PML-Q and PTI are said to be gathering in protest outside the residence of PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
Hussain is said to have written written all his pary’s MPA’s and to Deputy Speakeer Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari, apprising them of his party’s policy of PML-N candidate in the polling.
Meanwhile, members supporing both the candidates are registering their votes and moving to their designated lobbies. The hall is almost empty as most of the members including some PML-Q members, have already moved to the lobbies.
- PML-Q members wavering?
None of the PML-Q members have left their seats to go into any of the lobbies assigned to the two rival candidates to vote. Are they heeding the call of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain? Are they undecided? Do they have an alternate strategy? We will know shortly.
- Early signs of agitation to contest Chaudhry Shujjat’s letter
As expected, Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) are bracing to contest Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s letter on the ground that they are only bound by the party line as conveyed by their parliamentary leader.
Moonis Elahi, who conceded defeat barely an hour ago, has now said PML-Q parliamentary party meeting last night headed by its Parliamentary leader Sajid Bhatti decided to back Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, and therefore is not bound by Hussain’s letter.
Analysts say Article 63A(b) of the Constitution, clearly mentions party leader, and that the Constitution does not recognize parliamentary leader in any way.
PTI is said to have aired a call for its workers to immediately reach outside Punjab Assembly.
- Will PML-Q’s votes be counted?
Much depends on what position Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari takes on the letter said to be written by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to him.
Some analysts maintain the PML-Q parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly is Sajid Bhatti, not Hussain. From this standpoint, Hussain’s letter cannot disallow PML-Q MPAs from voting Elahi.
If Deputy Speaker Mazari does exclude PML-Q votes, the matter is likely to head to court.
Prthspd even more importantly, Imran Khan is likely to take to the streets in this case, crying foul.
- Members asked to move to their allotted galleries
The bells have been tolled for the requisite time and the Deputy Speaker has asked the members of the two rivals to move to their respective lobbies and wait to register their votes according to the set procedure. He has told all members to not reuturn to the house until the bells are tolled again.
- Secretary Punjab Assembly explaining procedure
Sescreaty Punjab Assembly is explaining the process of voting, under which the bells will toll for five minutes after the explanation, and the rival candidates’ supporter will go into separate lobbies.
The explanation is complete and the bells are being tolled.
- Hamza Shahbaz ahead by one vote
After excluding the 10 votes of PML-Q, Imran Khan’s coalition has the backing of 178 members while the PDM has the backing of 179 members.
PML-N candidate is therefore ahead of his opponet – given the Deputy Speaker excludes PML-Q votes and all PML-N’s votes are correctly cast and counted. There is no margin for error.
- Raja Saghir sworn in
Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly has administered the oath of office to the newly elected member provincial assembly Raja Sagheer, the PML-N candidate from PP-7.
An opposition member has raised an objection to his oath o nthe grounds that his success has not been notified, which the deputy speaker has overruled. The objection seems to be misplaced anyway because the ECP has already notified the success of Raja Sagheer.
Another objection has been raised to the membership of Zain Qureshi, who was a member of National Assembly before being elected member of Punjab Assembly, on the grounds that he cannot vote unless his regignation from the National Assembly has been accepted.
The Deputy Speaker overruled this objection as well.
- PML-N has the advantage
Tension is palpable in this electoral session of Punjab assembly starting after a three-hour delay. The deputy speaker is in chair at the session and entries to the assembly have been closed off.
If the deputy speaker has indeed received a letter from Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, instructing his party’s members to vote PML-N, the numbers game seems to favour PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz.
- Session underway, finally
The much delayed electoral session of Punjab is finally getting underway. Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari is chairing the session. He had earlier requested additional security for his person. The assembly’s security staff can be seen standing guard behind Mazari.
- Plot Twist: Elahi to be CM – but not as Khan’s nominee
In an unexpected plot twist, Chaudhry Shujaat has said he will see Pervez Elahi become the Punjab Chief Minister – but not as a nominee of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The elder politician says Elahi was nominated by Khan only after he, Asif Ali Zardari, and Nawaz Sharif offered him the nomination from the platform of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
Elahi, therefore, will become the CM as a PDM – bot not today, Hussain said.
- Nawaz Sharif telephones Asif Zardari
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has held a telephonic conversation with former President Asif Ali Zardari against the backdrop of runoff election for the post of CM in the Punjab assembly.
Well-placed sources say the two leaders discussed the present current political situation of Punjab, and exchanged notes over the PDM strategy over the election of Punjab chief minister.
Zardari took Sharif into confidence over his meetings with Chaudhry Shujaat. Nawaz Sharif appreciated the political insight of Asif Zardari in the current situation.
- Shujaat declines to support PTI
Geo News’ Hamid Mir has now contradicted his earlier report that Chaudhry Shujaat is supporting Pervez Elahi. He says Moonis Elahi has told him Chaudhry Shujaat has categorically declined to support Imran Khan’s candidate for the CM’s position.
- Chaudhry Shujaat said to back Pervez Elahi
Geo News is reporting that Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s son Moonis Elahi has met with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and that the elder politician has categorically denied supporting Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate for the CM’s post.
The younger Elahi is said to have recorded a video statement of Hussain, announcing his unqualified support for his cousin Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.
If true, this can put to rest any hopes PDM may have for the election to go its way.
- Chaudhry Shujaat the game changer
How will a word from Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain effect the polling game? The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has recently held that assembly members are bound to vote according to the party line issued by the party chief – failing which their vote will be nullified.
Geo’s Hamid Mir is reporting Chaudhry Shujaat has already a letter to Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari, although the deputy speaker’s office is not confirming any such report.
If Chaudhry Shujaat has indeed decided to back Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will lose the 10 votes of his PML-Q. This may give PML-N a better chance to have its candidate Hamza Shahbaz elected.
- Zardari off to huddle with Chaudhry Shujaat, again
The word is that former President Asif Ali Zardari is on his way to meet PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain one more time. Zardari met Hussain twice over the last couple of days, seeking his party’s support for the Punjab Chief Minister’s election.
Hussain, as the party chief, is said to have assured Zardari of his support for Hamza Shahbaz Sharif. His son Salik Hussain is already part of the federal cabinet.
Geo News is reporting that Zardari hopes to convince the PML-Q chief to issue a video message to his party’s MPAs, exhorting them to either stay neutral or vote for the PDM candidate.
- Khan’s party set to move SCP over delay in polling
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) says it is moving the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) over delay in the commencement of Friday’s crucial session of the Punjab Assembly.
A ruling by the SCP had appointed 4:00 pm for the session to hold a runoff election between Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, backed by the political coalition of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and Hamza Shehbaz, who is the incumbent Chief Minister for PML-N and its PDM coalition.
The session, however, is yet to begin more than two hours after the appointed time.
Fawad Chaudhry, a top aide to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has said this inordinate delay in the commencement of the session is a clear violation of the SCP order. PTI is therefore bringing a contempt of court suit in the SCP against Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari.
- Session yet to begin
The electoral session of Punjab Assembly is yet to get underway more than 90 minutes after the appionted time for its commencement. Both sides are claiming they have numbers to surprise the other at the poll.
Today’s runoff election is being held between Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, backed by the political coalition of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and Hamza Shehbaz, who is the incumbent Chief Minister for PML-N and its PDM coalition.
- Pervez Elahi, Buzdar arrive for the session
Chaudhry Pervez Elahi of PML-Q – the sitting speaker of the Assembly who is running for the post of Chief Minister – has arrived in the Assembly. Sitting next to him is Usman Buzdar, the former Chief Minister of Punjab who resigned to allow Elahi to run.
- Bells tolling again
Bells are tolling again the Punjab Assembly as a formal intimation to the members that the session for the election of Chief Minister is about to get underway.
- Punjab gets a new IGP
The federal government has appointed Faisal Shahkar as the neew Inspector General of Punjab police. The appointment was necessitated after former IG Punjab Rao Sardar Ali regretted to continue in office.
- Reports of scuffles, session yet to start
Reports coming from the Punjab Assembly speaks of scuffles on the house floor between rival members belonging to the rival coalitions as the Punjab Assembly session for a runoff election for the post of Chief Minister is yet to start an hour after hour set by the court.
- Uzma Qadri arrives in full PPC
Uzma Zaeem Qadri, a member belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has arrived to attend the assembly session in full personal protective clothing.
Qadri tested positive for Covid-19 a couple of days ago. Her attendance of the session was not certain, but now she has put all worries to rest by arriving in PPC.
- Deputy Speaker Mazari is in the house
Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari has arrived in Punjab Assembly.
Mazari will chair the Assembly’s electoral session as the incumbent speaker, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, is himself teh candiate for the post of Chief Minister.
- Bells tolling for the session
The assembly bells are being tolled ahead of a count for quorum as the crucial session for a runoff election for the post of Chief Minister of Pakistan’s most populous province gets underway.
Earlier, assembly members belonging to PDM coalition arrived with PML-N’s incumbet Chief Minister Hamza Shahbas Sharif at their head.
- PML-N complains of strong-arm tactics
Minutes after the hour set for the assembly’s electoral session arrived, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is raising outcry over PTI’s strong-arm tactics.
A tweet posted by the party’s official twitter handle said Ali Amin Gandapur of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had entered the assembly building at the head of a band of “goondas”.
Gandapur is not a member of Punjab assembly. He is a diehard follower of Imran Khan and was Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan in his cabinet, ousted April 10, 2022.
- Court orders police to stay away from Assembly
With the hour of the crucial electoral assembly session is almost upon us, reports from Lahore High Court say judges have stopped the police from entering the assembly building – unless called upon by the authorities.
It is not clear how the order chages the situation on the ground as police have no authority to enter the assembly on their own anyway.
Media reports also speak of the Inspector General of Police Rao Sardar Ali declining to continue in office, requesting the federal government to call him to Islamabad.
- One more PML-N member notified
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued of the notification of the success of PML-N candidate Raja Sagheer from PP-7. It remains to be seen if the he can be administered the oath of office in time to take part in the poll.
- MPAs allied with Khan reach the assembly
Although the session is scheduled to start at 4:00 pm, the members of provincial assembly allied with Imran Khan – including those of his own PTI and PML-Q – have started reaching the assembly building.
They travelled to the Assembly builiding in luxury buses from a local hotel where they were staying together for the last couple of days.
Interestingly, the bus company used to ferry the MPAs is named Niazi Express.
- Khan’s alliance looks set to fight back
From all appearances, former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political coalition is set to return to power in the country’s biggest province, Punjab, giving it a fillip ahead of the next year’s national election after the ruling alliance of parties crumbled in mere two months.
- Who will win the prized throne of Lahore?
ISLAMABAD: All is set for the Punjab Assembly to convene for a runoff election for the Chief Minister of the country’s most populous province between incumbent Hamza Shehbaz of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and challenger Chaudhry Pervez Elahi of Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q).
The former has the backing of the 11-party Pakistan Democratic Front (PDM) coalition while the latter is supported by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his allies.
In theory, the position of PTI looks solid following its come-from-behind win in last week’s by-polls. The newly elected members – 15 of PTI, three of PML-N and one independent – have been sworn in and will participate in the voting.
PDM on its part has been jockeying hard over the last couple of days for advantage with former president Asif Ali Zardari, known for his wheeling and dealing skills, camping out in Punjab.
Interior Minister Rana Sana on Thursday claimed of 50 PTI lawmakers in Punjab Assembly voting against Parvez Elahi.
The important session of the Punjab Assembly has been called at four o’clock in the afternoon. The entry of guests in the Punjab Assembly will be closed. The media will cover from the press gallery, but mobile phones will not be allowed.
The runoff election was set up when the Supreme Court (SC) arrange a compromise between the rivals on July 1.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has claimed that 186 members participated in the parliamentary party meeting of PTI and Q-League Punjab chaired by Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday.
The PML-N has not announced the final tally of its supporters, but Atta Tarar and Rana Sanullah have said that their number is around 180.
The opposition’s position looks secure after the boost from the by-elections held on July 17. Their tally comes to 188, including 178 members of PTI and 10 of PML-Q.
After winning four seats in the by-election, PML-N has 168 members in Punjab, but one member has not taken oath yet.
If this member takes the oath, the number of members of the government alliance will be 179, including 168 from PML-N, 7 from PPP, 4 independents, and 1 from Rah Haq Party.
The situation is far from clear amid all the claims and counterclaims of assured victory from both sides, so we will know only when the official result is out.
This is a developing story. Keep watching this space for latest updates as they arrive.
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