SARGODHA: An independent candidate swung a surprise when he defeated candidates supported by the PML-N and PPP in the PP-34 by-poll on Monday.

The seat had fallen vacant after the apex court disqualified PML-N MPA Rizwan Gill for having a fake degree.

According to official sources, independent Ijaz Kahloon bagged 16200 votes while PML-N’s Tabraiz Gill and PPP-supported independent Fayyaz Othi got 14600 and 7500 votes, respectively.

For local political observers, Kahloon’s victory was a major surprise for he defeated rivals backed country’s two major parties ruling in the Punjab and the centre.

PML-N candidate Tabraiz Gill’s campaign was run by four provincial ministers Ch Abdul Ghafoor, Dost Muhammad Khosa, Nadim Kamran and Zulfiqar Kohsa, who stayed here for two weeks. Tabraiz was the cousin of disqualified MPA Rizwan Gill.

Kahloon is also from a rebel PML-N group. He had the support of  Jamaat-i-Islami and some other parties.

He is expected to join the PML-N for being close to Captain Safdar, son-in-law of Nawaz Sharif.