Maintaining its supremacy in Punjab and belying all pre-poll political calculations and assessments, the PML-N is all set to emerge as the leading party in the country after the May 11 elections with a tally of 100-plus seats under its belt.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), taking part in the electoral politics on such a huge scale for the first time, has managed to earn the second place in the largest province even though it is trailing way behind the former ruling party but still.
The PTI fell short of coming to the expectations of its supporters whose turnout and strong presence during the elections took everybody by surprise.
More surprising still, the PPP has been humbled to the third position with all its heavyweights falling from grace.
As the results are still being consolidated and announcements being made, the PML-N is leading from all major cities of Punjab.
Until the filing of this report well after midnight, from Lahore, the PML-N has to its name victories from NA-118, NA-119, NA-120, NA-121, NA-24, NA-129 and NA-130.
Even from NA-122, NA-125, NA-126 and NA-128, the PML-N is leading per recent reports.
Likewise, from Rawalpindi, it is mixed bag of fortunes for both the PTI and the PML-N. Here PTI Chairman Imran Khan defeated Hanif Abbasi while Sheikh Rasheed settled scores with Shakeel Awan of the PML-N. But still the PML-N managed a couple of seats from Rawalpindi.
PML-N also won in other cities including Okara, Narowal, Sialkot, Gujrawala, and Faisalabad.
Interestingly, in most urban areas of the province, the elections turned out to be a one-on-one fight between the PML-N and the PTI, but in the rural areas the PPP occupies the second position.
But more astonishingly, most of the PPP stalwarts including former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Qamer Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chann, Ahmad Mukhtar, and Samina Ghurki lost their seats. Even Aitzaz Ahsan could not secure a seat for his wife in NA-124 despite heavy involvement.
The image of the PPP and incumbency factor cost it heavily in the elections as evident from these unexpected results.
Overall, the election 2013 turned out to be Nawaz vs anti-Nawaz forces, as opposed to an era when it used to be the PPP vs anti-PPP forces.
With trends highly favourable for the PML-N, it was very likely that it would form the next government without any difficulty with Nawaz Sharif as the prime minister.
Earlier throughout the day, the PML-N and the PTI kept following each other as far as turnout of voters and supporters was concerned. In several constituencies, the PTI voter turnout was highly impressive.
With the hype created by the PTI factor, there were expectations among political circles that no party would be able to make government single-handedly, resulting in a hung parliament and a weak government.
Congratulations PML (N).
I support PTI but accept election results. Further analysis of results will reveal what went wrong. Though I support PTI Io did not expect it to gain outright majority. I was expecting between 70-75 seats. I expected PML(N) to win approximately 90 seats. PML(N) better than I expected and PTI no where near my expectation.
Laundered Public money, Patwari force Punjab Police and Enrolled Polling Station Staff and very dumb people of Punjab HAVE SPOKEN and brought this wrath on themselves.You deserve it people of Lahore the traitors of democracy.All praise to KPK and Rawalpindi.God be with you all.
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