PML-N wins Lahore’s NA-133 seat for fourth time in a row

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has maintained its position in the National Assembly constituency NA-133 by winning by-election for the fourth time in a row on Sunday. As per the unofficial and unconfirmed results, PML-N candidate Shaista Pervaiz Malik bagged 46,811 votes and retained the NA-133 seat which was vacated after the death of her husband Pervaiz Malik in October. شکریہ لاہور ۔۔۔#شیر_اک_واری_فیر pic.twitter.com/GUIIbmG2mO — PML(N) (@pmln_org) December 5, 2021 In contrast to 2018 general elections results, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) popularity has increased as its candidate Aslam Gill secured 32,313 votes in Sunday’s by-poll. Earlier, the party could hardly manage to bag a little over 5,000 votes. پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا این اے 133 کے ضمنی انتخابات کے حوالے سے لاہور کے عوام سے اظہار تشکر چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی این اے 133 کی انتخابی مہم میں متحرک تمام جیالوں اور تنظیم کے عہدیداران کو شاباش@BBhuttoZardari — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) December 5, 2021 A total of 11 candidates contested the by-election but major competition was witnessed between the PML-N and the PPP candidates. The polling started at 8am and continued till 5pm without any break after which gates to the polling stations were shut to voters. A total of 254 polling stations were set up for 440,085 registered voters – 233,558 male and 206,927 female – out of which 22 polling stations were of ‘A’ category, 198 of ‘B’ category and 34 polling stations of ‘C’ category. As many as 200 separate polling stations were established for men and women while 54 mixed polling stations were also set up. Keeping in view Covid-19 pandemic, coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed strictly at all polling stations. Largely the polling process remained peaceful except some small scuffle incidents and taunting among PML-N and PPP workers in Maryum Colony and Kot Lakhpat. Both PML-N and PPP had arranged transport facility to bring voters from their homes. Both parties had also offered food to their voters, workers and supporters during polling. However, as the results started pouring in party workers were seen celebrating the victory at PML-N Secretariat in the provincial capital. Fireworks show was organised and sweets were distributed among the party workers and supporters. Addressing media after by-election results, PML-N leader Khawaja Imran Nazir said citizens of Lahore had rejected “politics of money”. Despite paying millions of rupees, he alleged the PPP failed to get support. Ali Pervaiz Malik said PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had tried to rig elections by distributing millions among voters. Zardari’s election strategy had ruined the politics of PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He urged the PPP to review its election strategy saying “if they continue with this policy Bilawal’s politics in Punjab will be buried”. PML-N’s Imran Nazir said his party had registered complained with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which has already constituted a committee to probe the incidents of ‘votes trading’. Meanwhile reacting to NA-133 by-election, Punjab government spokesperson Hasaan Khawar said “politics of money” had failed in NA-133 by-election. He added that despite pouring in large sums of money to buy votes the overall voter turnout in the constituency remained very low. “This reflects how much such elements were hated by the people. Now the PML-N and the PPP are fully aware that their old tactics of rigging will no longer work,” he added. Even after today's election situation, he said, if the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) wanted to fulfil its passion, it should do so as not many people will come out to join them in their protests. National Assembly’s NA-133 constituency is mostly comprising of lower- and middle-income group neighbourhoods, including Liaqatabad, Model Town Ext (Q, R and S blocks), Pindi Rajputan, Ismail Nagar, Kot Lakhpat, Chungi Amar Sadhu, Teharta Pind, Bagrian, Green Town, Township, Maryam Colony, Sitara Colony, Farid Colony, Model Colony, Bahar Colony, Ittefaq Factor, Peco Road, Wafaqi Colony and Johar Town. Security measures The Punjab government had allowed the deployment of Rangers for the security of the polling process. The Election Commission of Pakistan, on the other hand, made strict arrangements to foil any untoward incident, including any attempts to rig the election. The ECP said control rooms have been established in the ECP's Lahore office and the district returning officer's office to ensure a smooth voting process. It said that the control rooms would remain active till the compilation of electoral results. The statement said the polling process was smooth, adding that no complaints concerning any sort of irregularity have been received so far.

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/3rCMbw3