ECP Summons Atta Tarar Over NA-77 Gujranwala Visit, Says Result Can Be Withheld
ECP takes notice of Federal Minister Atta Tarar's alleged NA-77 code of conduct breach, summons him and says the result can be withheld. What the law allows.
یہ صفحہ اردو میں پڑھیں
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken notice of an alleged breach of its code of conduct by Federal Minister Atta Ullah Tarar in the NA-77 Gujranwala by-election. In a press release dated 7 November 2026, the ECP said it has asked for inquiry reports, told the minister to appear before the Commission in person, and said the NA-77 result can be withheld until it decides the matter.
Polling in NA-77 Gujranwala-I and PP-203 Sahiwal-VI is under way today, Sunday 8 November, from 8 am to 5 pm. This page sets out what the ECP actually said, what the law lets it do next, and what it means for voters in Gujranwala who are waiting for a result tonight.
What the ECP press release of 7 November says
The ECP says it has taken notice of an alleged code of conduct violation by Federal Minister Atta Ullah Tarar in NA-77. It has called for reports, summoned the minister in person, and warned that the result may be held back until a final decision.
The release is in Urdu. In our own translation, it makes five points:
- The ECP has taken notice of an alleged violation of the code of conduct by Federal Minister Atta Ullah Tarar during the NA-77 Gujranwala by-election.
- According to media reports, the minister visited the constituency by helicopter and took part in a gathering.
- The Commission has asked the District Monitoring Officer and the District Returning Officer for reports, for an inquiry.
- The minister has been directed to appear before the Commission in person.
- Until a final decision, the result of the constituency can be stopped.
The release gives no hearing date. It also does not say the violation has been proved. It uses the word "alleged" and rests on media reports, which is why the ECP has asked its own officers for reports first.
The NA-77 result can be held, not cancelled, at this stage
The ECP has only said the result "can be" withheld until it decides. That is a pause, not a cancellation. Votes are still being cast and counted today, and the ECP has not said the poll is void.
Three different things could happen to a result, and they are easy to mix up:
| Step | What it means | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Result withheld | The Commission holds back the official notification while it inquires | ECP press release of 7 November 2026; Section 8(c) general powers |
| Fine for a code violation | A nominated officer can fine up to Rs 50,000 after a summary inquiry | Section 234(3), Elections Act 2017 |
| Poll declared void | Voters at some stations, or the whole seat, vote again | Section 9(1), Elections Act 2017 |
| Time limit on voiding | 60 days after the winner's name is published | Section 9(3), Elections Act 2017 |
| Appeal against a fine | Within 3 days, to the Commission | Section 234(5), Elections Act 2017 |
We read each section in the ECP's own copy of the Elections Act 2017. Section 9 sets a high bar. The Commission has to be satisfied that "grave illegalities" or violations "materially affected the result" before it can order a fresh vote. We are not predicting that outcome. Nothing in the ECP release says it is being considered.
Polling in NA-77 and PP-203 continues today, 8 am to 5 pm
The notice does not stop polling. Voters in NA-77 Gujranwala-I and PP-203 Sahiwal-VI can vote until 5 pm today. Anyone inside the polling station at 5 pm can still vote.
According to the ECP's Form-33 lists, 11 candidates are standing in NA-77 and 7 in PP-203. The ECP draft list put NA-77 at 518,620 registered voters and 333 polling stations. Our full candidate list, with symbols, is on the NA-77 and PP-203 polling day page.
To find your own polling station, send your CNIC number without dashes to 8300. Our 8300 guide explains the reply.
How to report a problem to the ECP today
The ECP runs an election monitoring and control centre for today's polls. Complaints go to the helpline 051-111-327-000, by email to complaints@ecp.gov.pk, or by fax to 051-9204404.
The centre stays open until results come in. Our page on the ECP control centre for 8 November lists what to report and the four levels of control rooms. Give the polling station number, the time and what you saw. A complaint with a time and a station is far easier to act on than a general one.
- Note the polling station number from your 8300 reply before you call.
- Do not share unverified claims about rigging. Report them to the ECP instead.
- Keep your original CNIC with you. A copy is not accepted at the polling station.
What happens next with the ECP inquiry
The next step is the reports from the District Monitoring Officer and the District Returning Officer, then the minister's appearance. The ECP has not given dates for either, so a decision could come after today's count.
Under Section 234 of the Elections Act, monitoring officers report campaign violations to an officer nominated for each district. That officer can hold a summary inquiry. For a second violation, the matter goes to the Commission itself. The ECP has taken this case straight to Commission level by summoning the minister in person.
The counting itself goes ahead in the normal way. Presiding officers fill Form-45 at each station. The Returning Officer then compiles Form-47, the provisional result. Our guide to Forms 45, 47 and 49 explains each one. If the ECP withholds the NA-77 result, it is the official notification of the winner that waits, not the count.
We will update this page when the ECP publishes a hearing date or a decision. Until then, any claim that the result has been cancelled is not supported by what the ECP has said.
Frequently asked questions
Has the ECP cancelled the NA-77 by-election?
No. Polling is going ahead on 8 November 2026. The ECP only said the result can be withheld until it decides the complaint against the minister.
Which minister did the ECP summon?
Federal Minister Atta Ullah Tarar. The ECP directed him to appear before the Commission in person. No date was given in the release.
What is the alleged violation?
The ECP says media reports claim the minister visited the constituency by helicopter and attended a gathering. The ECP calls it an alleged breach of the code of conduct.
Does the notice affect PP-203 Sahiwal?
No. The ECP release names only NA-77 Gujranwala. Polling and the result in PP-203 Sahiwal-VI follow the normal process.
Can the ECP order a fresh vote in NA-77?
Section 9 of the Elections Act lets it do so only if grave illegalities materially affected the result, within 60 days of the winner's name being published. The ECP has not said this is being considered.
Where will the NA-77 result appear?
The ECP posts Form-47 for by-elections on its by-elections page on ecp.gov.pk, as it did for NA-168 Bahawalpur in September.
Sources and last checked
We read the ECP press release of 7 November 2026 on the ECP press releases page on 8 November 2026, and translated it from Urdu ourselves. Sections 8, 9 and 234 are from the ECP's copy of the Elections Act 2017, as modified up to 5 August 2023. For how by-elections work, see our page on by-election rules in Pakistan.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
