Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan reiterated his call for free and fair general elections after his party won 15 seats, according to unofficial results, in by-elections held in 20 constituencies of Punjab.
The by-polls were held after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified 25 lawmakers belonging to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for switching loyalties and voting for Hamza Shehbaz in an April election for the chief minister’s seat.
Khan congratulated his workers for defeating the candidates of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, saying the PTI voters had won against the entire state machinery along with biased election authorities.
“The only way forward from here is to hold fair & free elections under a credible ECP,” he said on Twitter. “Any other path will only lead to greater political uncertainty & further economic chaos.”
Thanking its voters and supporters, the PTI on its official Twitter handle said, “Shukriya Pakistan, the fascist imported government has been defeated!”
Punjab By-election
The polling for by-elections to 20 Punjab Assembly seats took place on Sunday, July 17, from 8 am till 5 pm, without any break, with Section 144 implemented to establish law and order in the province. Overall, it remained peaceful with a few incidents of violence were reported at different places.
There were 4.5 million registered voters, including 2.1 million female voters, and 2.4 million male voters, in the 20 constituencies, and a total of 3,141 polling stations had been established.
About 175 candidates were in the race for the 20 seats which fell vacant after the de-notification of dissident members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the provincial assembly.
Results
According to unofficial results, the PTI has won 15 out of 20 seats in the by-polls, while PML-N has been able to win three seats only. One Independent candidate Syed Muhammad Rafiuddin returned victorious in PP-228 Lodhran-V, defeating PTI’s Izzat Javaid Khan.
- PP-217 Multan: PTI’s Zain Qureshi (Son of former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi) defeated PML-N’s Mohammad Salman
- PP-288 Dera Ghazi Khan: PTI’s Sardar Mohammad Saifuddin emerged victorious against PML-N’s Abdul Qadir Khan.
- PP-202 Sahiwal: PTI candidate Major (retd) Mohammad Ghulam Sarwar defeated PML-N’s Noman Langriyan
- PP-90 Bhakkar II: PTI’s Irfan Ullah Khan Niazi won against PML-N’s Saeed Akbar Nowani
- In PP-272 Muzaffargarh V: PTI’s Muhammad Moazzam Ali Khan defeated Syeda Zehra Basit Bukhari of PML-N.
- PP-97 Faisalabad-I: PTI candidate Ali Afzal Sahi defeated PML-N’s Mohammad Ajmal Cheema
- PP 83 Khushab II: PTI’s Malik Hassan Aslam Khan won against Independent Muhammad Asif Malik.
- PP-127 Jhang IV: PTI’s Mehar Muhammad Nawaz Jabawna emerged victorious against PML-N’s Mehr Muhammad Aslam.
- PP 125 Jhang II: PTI candidate Mian Muhammad Azam won against PML-N’s Faisal Hayat
- PP-140 Sheikhupura VI: PTI Khurram Shehzad Virk defeated PML-N candidate Mian Khalid Mehmood.
- PP 170 Lahore XXVII: PTI candidate Malik Zaheer Abbas defeated PML-N’s Muhammad Amin Zulqarnain.
- In PP 167 Lahore XXIV, PTI’s Shabir Ahmad defeated PML-N’s Nazir Ahmad Chohan.
- PP 158 Lahore XV: PTI’s Mian Muhammad Akram Usman defeated PML-N’s Rana Ahsan.
- PP 224 Lodhran I: PTI candidate Muhammad Amir Iqbal Shah won against PML-N’s Zawar Hussain Warraich.
- PP 282 Layyah III: PTI’s Qaisar Abbas Khan secured victory against PML-N’s Muhammad Tahir Randhawa.
- PP-273 Muzaffargarh VI: PML-N candidate Muhammad Sibtain Raza returned victorious against PTI’s Yasir Arfat Khan.
- PP-168 Lahore XXV: PML-N Malik Asad Ali Khokhar defeated PTI’s Muhammad Nawaz Awan.
- PP-7 Rawalpindi II: PML-N’s Raja Sageer Ahmed defeated PTI’s Muhammad Shabir Awan with a narrow margin.
- PP 228 Lodhran V: Independent Syed Muhammad Rafi ud Din secured vicitory against PTI’s Izzat Javaid Khan
The ECP will announce officials results on Monday after all the legal formalities are completed