DERA GHAZI KHAN: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Usama Abdul Karim has been declared elected unopposed from Punjab Assembly constituency PP-289 (Dera Ghazi Khan-IV), according to the official Return of Uncontested Election (Form-34) issued by the returning officer (RO) on Friday.
The RO announced that only one valid nomination paper remained for the constituency after the completion of the scrutiny and withdrawal process. As no other candidate was left in the field, Usama Abdul Karim was declared elected without polling, in line with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) rules. The notification was formally issued and signed by the returning officer.
The by-election for PP-289 was originally scheduled to be held on January 25. However, the electoral process effectively concluded earlier following a series of withdrawals by rival candidates. A total of 10 candidates, including former Punjab chief minister Dost Muhammad Khosa and his son, withdrew from the contest during the withdrawal phase.
According to election officials, the final development occurred late Thursday night when Muslim League-Jinnah’s candidate, Muhammad Ibad Sadozai, withdrew his nomination after the allotment of election symbols. His withdrawal was carried out under Section 65 of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s rules, which allows candidates to retire from the contest within the stipulated timeframe.
Under ECP regulations, when a candidate retires under Section 65, they are excluded from the electoral process. If, after such withdrawal, only one candidate remains in a constituency, the returning officer is required to complete Form-34 and declare the remaining candidate elected unopposed, without holding a poll.
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Earlier, on January 1, the RO had issued Form-33, which showed that only two candidates were left in the race: Usama Abdul Karim of the PML-N and Ibad Khan of Muslim League-Jinnah. With the subsequent withdrawal of Ibad Khan, Usama became the sole contestant, leading to the uncontested result.
Election officials confirmed that all legal requirements for an uncontested election were fulfilled before the declaration was made. The process, they said, was carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of election law and rules.
Karim’s 10 rival candidates, including former chief minister Dost Muhammad Khosa and his son, withdrew from race. https://t.co/hXzfmx5tV3
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) January 3, 2026
Usama Abdul Karim is the son of PML-N Senator Hafiz Abdul Karim and is also associated with the party’s youth wing. His unopposed election further consolidates the party’s position in the constituency.
By-elections are typically held to fill vacant seats due to resignation, disqualification or death of a sitting member. While uncontested elections are permitted under election law, political observers often note that they reduce voter participation in the democratic process. Nonetheless, officials maintain that the procedure followed in PP-289 adhered strictly to the rules laid down by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
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