Polling is underway today in National Assembly constituency NA-213, where 18 candidates are competing to fill the seat left vacant after the passing of PPP stalwart Nawab Yousaf Talpur. Election materials were dispatched early in the morning to ensure a smooth start, and voting will continue uninterrupted until 5 p.m.
The race is drawing significant attention, particularly due to the close contest between PPP’s Saba Talpur—the widow of the late Nawab Yousaf Talpur—and Lal Chand Malhi, a former MNA and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA)’s nominee. Malhi previously held a reserved seat in the National Assembly following the 2018 elections and is expected to pose a formidable challenge backed by the GDA.
The by-election is being closely watched as a barometer of shifting political dynamics in the region. In the 2018 general elections, Nawab Yousaf Talpur won decisively with 175,162 votes, far ahead of his nearest challenger, Mir Amanullah Talpur (PML-N), who received 44,061 votes. Malhi had then placed third with 37,958 votes, but enters this race with stronger political support.
Out of 498 polling stations, 269 have been designated sensitive and 91 highly sensitive, prompting heightened security measures. Law enforcement personnel have been deployed across the constituency to maintain peace throughout the day.
With 699,010 registered voters, turnout is expected to be robust. To facilitate voting, Umerkot district has declared a public holiday, allowing residents to cast their ballots freely without work-related constraints.
