PPP's Sardar Kohiyar Domki wins PB-8 Sibi by-poll amid rigging allegations
Sibi Ittehad's runner-up Asghar Marri calls process biased: Boycotts voting claiming Tehsil Lahri was no-go area for his polling agents
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Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Kohiyar Domki has emerged victorious in the PB-8 constituency by-election in Sibi, Balochistan, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Monday.
According to unofficial and unverified results, Domki secured 35,716 votes, while Sibi Ittehad's independent candidate, Mir Asghar Khan Marri, trailed behind with 11,949 votes.
The by-election was held yesterday following the death of PPP MPA Sardar Sarfraz Domki, leaving the seat vacant. Kohiyar Domki, Sarfraz Domki’s son, contested the election on the PPP ticket and was declared the winner.
Boycott by Sibi Ittehad's independent candidate
Yesterday, independent candidate Mir Asghar Khan Marri, representing Sibi Ittihad, announced a boycott of the election, alleging rigging during the polling process and biased behaviour by government officials.
During the polling process, Asghar Marri addressed an urgent press conference and claimed that polling agents from his side were barred from accessing polling stations in Tehsil Lahri, which he alleged had been turned into a no-go area.
Marri accused the provincial government, led by the PPP, of misusing state machinery to support Domki. He alleged that armed men stationed on roads disrupted the democratic process in Tehsil Lahri, preventing a fair election.
He criticised the Quetta administration and the Election Commission for their alleged failure to ensure a transparent electoral process.
He claimed that government officials deployed at polling stations openly campaigned for the PPP candidate. According to Marri, such practices have eroded public trust in parliamentary politics, especially among the youth of Balochistan.
Marri concluded his remarks by stating that the boycott of the election would mark the beginning of opposition to such undemocratic practices. He warned that such incidents could further destabilise the political landscape in Balochistan.
PPP candidate Domki rejects rigging allegation
While rejecting allegations of irregularities, Sardar Kohiyar Domki stated that his opponents were making baseless claims. He reiterated that the election was conducted transparently and fairly.
Amid these allegations, polling continued under tight security, with Frontier Constabulary (FC), police, and levies personnel deployed at polling stations to maintain law and order. Despite the security measures, tensions ran high during the by-election.
Reporter: Essa Tareen