-PTI makes land slide victory in Punjab by-elections, securing at least 16 seats
-Despite all powers, resources and tall claims, PML-N gets merely 15% of the pie in game changer polls
-PML-N accepts PTI historic win, concedes defeat
-People hail impartiality of institution in holding free and fair elections
-Shehbaz, Hamza, Bilawal call emergency meetings to figure out future plan
-Imran congratulates nation, allies on sizzling victory, repeats demand for fresh general elections
From Abid Usman
LAHORE: The celebrations in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) camp were in full swing as unofficial results in the by-elections on 20 constituencies of Punjab, showed PTI under the leadership of former Prime Minister Imran Khan swept the local government elections with majority vote.
According to the preliminary, unofficial results, PTI has bagged at least 16 seats, while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) could only secure three seats and 1 seat secured by an independent candidate.
Thanking its voters and supporters, the PTI on its official Twitter handle said, “Shukriya Pakistan, the fascist imported government has been defeated!”
As results started pouring in, Khan took to his Twitter to reiterate his demand for early elections. “The only way forward from here is to hold fair [and] free elections under a credible ECP.”
While instructing his party representatives on duty in all polling stations, PTI chairman Imran Khan has asked them “not to leave their posts till official results have been obtained from the Returning Officers”.
Meanwhile, PML-N conceded defeat Sunday in the crucial Punjab by-elections after the PTI took the lead in the majority of the 20 provincial assembly constituencies which were up for grabs.
As the unofficial results started pouring in, showing the PTI in the lead, the party’s vice president Maryam Nawaz took to Twitter and said that the defeat should be accepted with an open heart.
“The PML-N should accept the results of the by-polls with an open heart and concede to the decision of the masses,” Maryam wrote.
She added that winning and losing were part of politics, therefore, the party should now focus on its weaknesses, identify them, and then overcome them. “God willing, everything will be fine,” she said.
Taking to Twitter, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah congratulated the PTI for its victory and said that the government ensured a transparent election.
“Alhamdulillah, there was no complaint of rigging or improper use of power by the administration in Punjab,” he said.
The minister added: “Today, we have guarded the sanctity of public opinion. In the 2018 elections too, these seats were not held by PLMN and PTI and independent candidates were elected.”
Senior politician Farhatullah Babar — who belongs to the PML-N’s allied party, PPP — said that the results of the elections should be welcomed, as there was seemingly no interference.
“As long as there aren’t midnight calls from no caller ID, as long as there’s no elephant in the tent breathing down the necks of tent dwellers & as long as people speak freely in any election, the results of that election must be welcomed no matter who wins.”
Speaking to reporters, PTI General Secretary Asad Umar announced that Imran Khan to chair Party’s core committee meeting at his Bani Gala residence as political circumstances changed with Punjab snapped polls.
The results and unbiased role of State Institutions were hailed by common citizens, politician, and Journalists.
Following the historic defeat by 13 parties alliance separate meetings have been summoned today by PML-N and PPP in Lahore and Karachi respectively.
Immediately after, unofficial results started pouring in and showed that the PTI was in a commanding position and set for a major triumph.
Even before any official announcements, journalists, politicians and analysts across the country took to Twitter with congratulatory messages for PTI and advice for PML-N.
Journalist Khurram Husain said the results showed that Imran Khan had “arrived” as a “genuinely popular leader in Pakistan with grassroot support”.
Earlier, PTI leader Shahbaz Gill was detained by the police from a factory in PP-272 in Muzaffargarh.
Punjab Home Minister Attaullah Tarrar while reacting to the arrest of Shahbaz Gill said that armed persons were present with the PTI leader and the arms are completely banned in Punjab.
He said Section 144 had been imposed on possession and display of arms. Commandant FC has stated that no FC official was accompanying Gill.
Tarar said that the question arises as to who the armed people were who were wearing FC uniform. The provincial minister said Gill has resorted to illegal activities to gain cheap fame and action will be taken against them as per law.
The polling began at 8am and continued till 5pm but in several districts polling was stopped due to clashes.It is pertinent to mention that the 20 seats fell vacant after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) “de-seated” 25 PTI dissident lawmakers on May 23 for voting against PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz in the Punjab chief minister’s election. Which included five lawmakers elected on reserved seats for women and minorities.
By-elections were held in 20 constituencies of Punjab Assembly including PP-7 Rawalpindi, PP-83 Khushab, PP-90 Bhakkar, PP-97 Faisalabad; PP-125, PP-127 Jhang, PP-140 Sheikhupura,PP-158, 167,168,170 Lahore;PP-167, Lahore, PP-202 Sahiwa,; PP-217 Multan, PP-224 Lodhran, PP-228 Lodhran, PP-237 Bahawalnagar, PP-272,273 Muzaffargarh,PP-282 Layyah and PP-288 Dera Ghazi Khan.
A total of 4.57 million registered voters, including 2.46 million women, were eligible to cast ballot in the by-polls. As many as 3140 polling stations, including 731 male, 700 female and 1700 combined polling stations had been established across the 20 constituencies.
A total of 9,562 polling booths had been set up for the by-polls. The ECP had declared 1204 polling stations sensitive and 696 highly sensitive.
