PML-N vote bank swelled in by-polls
From Nadeem Shah
MULTAN: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has bagged 13 per cent more votes than the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf and 44.71 per cent than the Pakistan People’s Party in by-elections on 10 provincial and national assembly constituencies in 2015.
According to official statistics, the by-polls were held in NA-154, NA-19, NA-108, NA-246, NA-137, PP-147, PP-16, PP-100, PP-196 and PK-93. The constituencies are located in Lodhran, Lahore, Karachi, Sheikhupura, Attock, Gujranwala, Multan and Dir. Of the 10 constituencies, the PML-N captured six seats (three each of provincial and national assemblies), the PTI two (both of National Assembly) and the PPP and the MQM one each. The JI and the PTI lost PK-93 by-polls to the PPP, which they had won in the general elections.
The PML-N received 548,156 votes (52.47pc) while the PTI received 415,316 votes (39.47pc) and the PPP received 81,134 votes (7.76pc) in the 10 by-polls. In the 2013 general elections, the PML-N received 458,279 votes (50.57pc) in the 10 constituencies while the PTI got 357,436 votes (39.44pc) and the PPP obtained 101,232 votes (11pc). According to the statistics, the PPP vote bank reduced to 3.3 per cent in the by-polls and minor change was witnessed in the PTI vote bank.
In the general elections, the PML-N won five slots from the 10 constituencies and the PTI, the MQM and the JI captured one each slot while the independents took away the remaining two slots. The PTI had not fielded its candidate in PP-16 by-poll, which was won by the former Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada’s son on a PML-N ticket.
NA-154 (Lodhran): PTI candidate Jehangir Tareen won the slot by securing 138,719 votes (56.5pc) while PML-N candidate Siddique Khan Baloch got 99,933 votes (40.38pc) and PPP candidate Rana Sumair Noon obtained 1,941 votes (0.77pc). In the general election, independent candidate Siddique Khan Baloch won the slot by securing 86,177 votes (38.68pc) while PML-N candidate Syed Muhammad Rafiuddin obtained 45,634 votes (20.48pc), PTI candidate Jehangir Khan Tareen got 75,955 votes (34.9pc) and PPP candidate Mirza Nasir Baig got 11,173 votes (6.75pc).
NA-19 (Haripur): PML-N candidate Babar Nawaz Khan won the by-polls by securing 137,227 votes (58.63pc) while PTI candidate Raja Amir Zaman got 90,702 votes (38.76pc) and PPP candidate Tahir Qureshi received 1,396 votes (1.56pc).
In the general elections, PTI candidate Raja Amir Zaman won the slot by securing 116,979 votes (40.61pc). PML-N candidate Omer Ayub Khan received 114,807 votes (39.86pc) and PPP candidate Sardar Mushtaq Khan received 16,474 votes (12.64pc).
NA-108 (Mandi Bahauddin): PML-N candidate Mumtaz Tarar won the by-poll by securing 75,402 votes (41.81pc) while PTI candidate Tariq Tarar received 38,987 votes (21.62pc) and PPP candidate Asif Bashir received 29,475 votes (16.35pc).
In the general elections, independent candidate Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry won the slot by securing 85,009 votes (36.1pc). PML-N candidate Mumtaz Ahmad Tarar received 73,789 votes (31.26pc), PTI candidate Zafarullah Tarar got 25,406 votes (20.8pc) and PPP candidate Tariq Tarar obtained 29,883 votes (12.65pc).
NA-246 (Karachi): MQM candidate Kanwar Naveed Jamil won the by-poll by getting 95,644 votes (73.41pc) while PTI candidate Imran Ismail received 24,821 votes (19.04pc) and JI candidate Rashid Nasim received 9,056 votes (0.60pc).
In the general elections, MQM candidate Sardar Nabeel Gabol won the slot by securing 137,874 votes (73.98pc) while PTI candidate Amir Sharjeel received 31,875 votes (17.11pc) and Shahzad Majeed of the PPP received 1,716 votes (3.37pc).
NA-137 (Nankana Sahib): PML-N candidate Dr Shizra Mansab Ali Khan Kharral won the by-poll by getting 80,241 votes (57.86pc) and PTI-supported independent candidate Brig Ijaz Shah (retd) received 41,944 votes (30.24pc) while PPP candidate Shahjahan Bhatti obtained 16,507 votes (11.90pc).
In the general elections, PML-N candidate Rai Mansab Ali Khan won the slot by security 61,329 votes (37.72pc) while PTI candidate Rai Akram Bhatti got 8,896 votes (13.69pc) and Shahjahan Bhatti of the PPP received 12,007 votes (13.69pc).
PP-147 (Lahore): PTI candidate Shoaib Siddique won the by-poll by securing 31,964 votes (52pc) and PML-N candidate Mohsin Latif received 28,402 votes (46.21pc) while PPP candidate Iftikhar Shahid received 756 votes (0.22pc).
In the general elections, PML-N candidate Mohsin Latif won the slot by securing 36,781 votes (50.16pc) while PTI candidate Muhammad Shoaib Siddique bagged 30,174 votes (41.15pc) and PPP candidate Iftikhar Shahid received 1,873 votes (6.12pc).
PP-16 (Attock): Jehangir Khanzada won the by-poll by securing 39,820 votes (90.68pc) while the PTI and the PPP did not field their candidates.
In the general elections, PML-N candidate Shuja Khanzada won the slot by securing 38,791 votes (42.19pc) while PTI candidate Qazi Ahmad Akbar got 18,549 votes (20.18pc) and PPP candidate Dr Muhammad Naeem Awan received 990 votes (9.43pc).
PP-100 (Gujranwala): PML-N candidate Akhtar Ali Khan won the by-poll by securing 48,878 votes (62.24pc) while PTI candidate Ahsanullah Virk received 28,858 votes (36.75pc) and PPP candidate Rana Muhammad Shahbaz got 465 votes (0.59pc).
In the general elections, PML-N candidate Ch Shamshad Ahmad Khan won the slot by securing 54,118 votes (57.91pc) while PTI candidate Muhammad Yasir Arafat bagged 14,618 votes (15.64pc) and PPP candidate Muhammad Asghar got 9,033 votes (9.67pc).
PP-196 (Multan): PML-N candidate Rana Mehmoodul Hassan won the by-poll by securing 30,278 votes (52.11pc) while PTI candidate Rana Abdul Jabbar got 19,321 votes (33.26pc) and PPP candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain Arain bagged 7,334 votes (12.62pc).
In the general elections, PML-N candidate Abdul Waheed Chaudhry won the slot by securing 33,030 votes (38.68pc) while PTI candidate Rana Abdul Jabbar got 28,826 votes (33.76pc) and PPP candidate Akhtar Hussain Qamar received 10,000 votes (11.72pc).
PK-93 (Dir): PPP candidate Sahibzada Sanaullah won the by-poll by securing 23,291 votes (24.46pc) while JI candidate Azam Khan could secure 19,290 votes (44.88pc).
In the general elections, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Behram Khan won the slot by securing 13,580 votes (33.90pc) while PPP candidate Sahibzada Sanaullah secured 9,799 votes (24.46pc), PML-N candidate Fakhar Hayat received 7,975 votes (19.91pc) and PTI candidate Muhammad Sajid Khan got 6,158 votes (21.74pc).
