The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has once again gained absolute majority in Punjab with over 180 seats to its name in the Punjab Assembly with results still pouring in from far flung areas of the province.
Posting impressive results both in the National and Punjab Assembly, PML-N is sure to form governments in Islamabad and Lahore.
In Lahore, the PML-N maintained its supremacy, winning 22 seats out of a total 25. Interestingly, it lost all the three seats to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
PML-N candidates Akhtar Rasool, Khwaja Salman Rafiq and Tauseef Shah lost their respective seats while PTI’s Aslam Iqbal, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and Dr Murad have been victorious on the three provincial seats from Lahore.
One National Assembly seat, NA-126 Lahore also went towards PTI where Shafqat Mahmood defeated Khwaja Hasan in a closely fought contest. Given the emerging trends, PML-N would have a very small opposition to deal with in future, but in the Centre, Imran Khan has already promised to come up as an effective opposition.
Meanwhile, PTI has decided to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with charges of rigging in NA-122 and NA-125. From NA-122, Ayaz Sadiq of PML-N defeated Imran Khan in a late night result.
Earlier, announcement of results from NA-125, NA-122 and NA-126 was withheld till late creating doubts in the minds of experts and analysts. However by Sunday morning, results on TV had declared Khwaja Saad Rafique and Ayaz Sadiq as winners from NA-125 and NA-122, respectively while from NA-126 Shafqat Mahmood emerged as the lone winner from PTI in Lahore.
