PTI Stupefies PML-N with Remarkable Win

On Sunday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf defeated PML-N by triumphing over 15 seats in the critical by-elections on 20 seats which got vacant after the ouster of Imran Khan and disqualification of PTI members who had voted for Hamza Shehbaz as chief minister of Punjab. As per unofficial results, the by-elections were held in 14 districts outs of which PTI won five seats in central Punjab, five in north and as many in south Punjab by losing one seat in Lahore, three in south Punjab and one in north. On the other hand, the ruling party, PML-N could win only 4 seats put of 20.

Imran Khan tweeted regarding the fair result of by-elections and being grateful for everyone, “I want to first thank our PTI workers & voters of Punjab for defeating not just PMLN candidates but the entire state machinery, esp harassment by police, & a totally biased ECP. Thank you to all our Allies, PMLQ, MWM & Sunni Ittehad Council.” “The only way forward from here is to hold fair and free elections under a credible ECP. Any other path will only lead to greater political uncertainty and further economic chaos,” Mr Khan said.

I want to first thank our PTI workers & voters of Punjab for defeating not just PMLN candidates but the entire state machinery, esp harassment by police, & a totally biased ECP. Thank you to all our Allies, PMLQ, MWM & Sunni Ittehad Council. pic.twitter.com/TgFqQ7EDj0

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 17, 2022

With the outcome of results Maryam Nawaz tweeted that her party must accept the results with open heart and respect people’s decision. Losing and winning is a part of politics. She advised that we must focus on our weaknesses and work hard to overcome them.

مسلم لیگ ن کو کھلے دل سے نتائج تسلیم کرنا چاہییں۔ عوام کے فیصلے کے سامنے سر جھکانا چاہیے۔ سیاست میں ہار جیت ہوتی رہتی ہے۔ دل بڑا کرنا چاہیے۔ جہاں جہاں کمزوریاں ہیں، ان کی نشاندہی کر کے انھیں دور کرنے کے لیے محنت کرنی چاہیے۔ انشاءاللّہ خیر ہو گی۔

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 17, 2022

PTI leaders, including former federal minister Fawad Chaudhary welcomed her comment declaring that Hamza Shehbaz must accept the defeat and immediately resign. Fawad said Imran Khan was the only decisive factor between the rival parties as he ran a whirlwind election campaign and hammered home his narrative by asking voters to wage “jihad” by defeating turncoats and attain “real independence”. He also tweeted an Urdu couplet ‘ye waqt kis ki raoonat pe khak daal gya / ye kon bol rha tha khuda ke lehjey mein’.

یہ وقت کس کی رعونت پہ خاک ڈال گیا
یہ کون تھا جو بول رہا تھا خدا کے لہجے میں #بلے_پہ_ٹھپہ

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) July 17, 2022

The elections were carried out peacefully except at few polling stations where rough sloganeering, allegations and counter-allegations took place. Stating that the polling held in a peaceful manner, Mr Khan after the polling highlighted a conflict in Lahore, arrest of Shahbaz Gill in Muzaffargarh and police’s attempt to capture PTI’s former ministers Shibli Faraz and Zulfi Bukhari.

The PTI’s winning candidates and their constituencies include Hassan Malik (PP-83, Khushab-II); Irfan Ullah Khan Niazi (PP-90, Bhakkar-II); Ali Afzal Sahi (PP-97, Faisalabad-I); Mian Muhammad Azam (PP-125, Jhang-II); Mehr Muhammad Nawaz (PP-127, Jhang-IV); Khurram Shehzad Virk (PP-140, Sheikhupura-VI); Mian Muhammad Akram Usman (PP-158, Lahore-XV); Shabbir Ahmad Gujjar (PP-167, Lahore-XXIV); Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar (PP-170, Lahore-XXVI); Muhammad Ghulam Sarwar (PP-202, Sahiwal-VII); Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi (PP-217, Multan-VII); Muhammad Aamir Iqbal Shah (PP-224, Lodhran-I) and Muhammad Moazzam Ali Khan (PP-272, Muzaffargarh-V).

The winning PML-N candidates are Raja Saghir Ahmed (PP-07, Rawalpindi-II); Malik Asad Ali Khokhar (PP-168, Lahore-XXV); Fida Hussain (PP-237, Bahawalnagar-I) and Muhammad Sibtain Raza (PP-273, Muzaffargarh-VI). Only independent candidate Syed Muhammad Rafiuddin Bukhari won from PP-228 (Lodhran-V) constituency.

Moonis Elahi tweeted that the real process of change will begin now for Pakistan and it will progress leaps and bounds under the leadership of Imran Khan.

ن لیگ کی شکست، پاکستان کی جیت۔ آج پنجاب شریف خاندان کی غلامی سے آزاد ہو گیا۔اصل تبدیلی کا عمل تواب شروع ہو گا۔ عمران خان کی قیادت میں پنجاب اور پاکستان اب آگے بڑھے گا، انشاءاللہ! #ByElection2022

— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi6) July 17, 2022