Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the winner in first local government elections in Islamabad, leading against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The electoral arena comprises of two constituencies of the National Assembly: NA-48 won by PTI’s Asad Umar and NA-49, which went to PML-N’s Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
According to unofficial results, PML-N won 21 seats while the PTI got 16, and independent candidates pocketed 13 seats of the union councils.
The elections were conducted in 32 rural and 18 urban Union Councils and according to unofficial results; PML-N and PTI have showed a neck-to-neck contest in rural as well as urban areas of the Capital.
PTI has won a seat in Union Council-37 (G-10/1 and G-10/2) where its candidate for Chairman, Malik Sajid Mehmood captured 1,122 votes against a candidate of PML-N, Ch. Iftikhar, who grabbed 1,048 votes. Ali Awan, another PTI candidate, won the slot of Chairman from UC-40.
In another result for UC-49, Syed Zeeshan Naqvi of PML-N won the coveted seat of Chairman. Similarly, Waseem Sana Malik of PML-N secured his berth as Chairman from UC-18, while Raja Khurram, a candidate of PTI has been declared the winner from UC-8.
From UC-12, Ch. Azhar, an independent candidate won the slot of Chairman. Malik Rafique a candidate of PTI won his berth from UC-35. Muhammad Wahid of PML-N secured his berth as Chairman from UC-05.
Chaudhry Nadeem, an Independent won the coveted seat of Chairman from UC-14 (Sihala).
Malik Aamir, a candidate of PTI secured his berth as Chairman from UC-21 (Sohan Deh).
Chaudhry Allah Ditta, a candidate of PML-N has been declared a winner from UC-26 while Munir Ashraf, another PML-N candidate won the slot of Chairman from UC-32.
From UC-33 G/8-1, 2, PTI candidate Malik Arif won the Chairman election while from UC-39 (Mera Sumbal Jaffar), Sajid Mehmood, a candidate of PML-N has been declared winner.
Rana Ashfaq, a candidate of PML-N won the slot of Chairman from UC-43 and from UC-44, a PML-N candidate Muhammad Aftab has won slot of Chairman.
Chaudhry Wajid Ayub, a candidate of PML-N won slot of Chairman from UC-47 (Tarnol) while Khurram Bakhtiar of PTI won the seat of Chairman from UC-29 (F-10, 11).
PTI’s Chaudhry Shaukat Ali won the coveted seat of Chairman from UC-19.
Chaudhry Khursheed Ahmed, a candidate of PTI, secured his berth as Chairman from UC-20 (Ali Pur). Another PTI candidate Qaiser Ghafar won as Chairman from UC-07.
Syed Zaheer Ahmed Shah, a candidate of PML-N, has been declared the winner from UC-24 while Syed Sabat Hassan, a PML-N candidate won the slot of Chairman from UC-45 (Jhangi Sayedan).
From UC-48, Independent candidate Malik Imtiaz won the Chairman election.
Sardar Mehtab of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) won coveted seat of Chairman from UC-41. Farhan Ali Mughal, a candidate of PML-N secured his berth as Chairman from UC-42 (I-10).
Namberdar Jamil Khokhar, an independent candidate has been declared winner from UC-23 while Attique Khattak, a PTI candidate won the slot of Chairman from UC-25 (F-6).
From UC-22, PML-N’s candidate Chaudhry Matloob Hussain won the Chairman election by defeating PTI candidate.
From UC-27, a PTI candidate, Anjum Shehzad won the Chairman election.
From UC-34, PML-N’s candidate Malik Sajjad Ahmad won the Chairman election by defeating PTI candidate.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and other parties failed to make any mark during the electoral bout. The PTI lost the election in its chairman Imran Khan’s union council Mora Noor, while Minister Dr Tariq Fazal’s nephew lost the battle with the PTI.
Similarly, ex-MNA Anjum Aqeel’s brother-in-law also could not return from Golra UC and the seat went to Shoaib Khan of PTI.
At least nine candidates, belonging to the minorities, returned unopposed from union council no. 6,11,17,19, 23, 34, 3, 45 and 48. There were no candidates on the reserved seats for minorities in 13 union councils.
Supporters rejoiced Monday night as candidates for Islamabad’s by-polls celebrated their success. Supporters danced in the streets to the sound of ‘dhol’ and trumpets in the Federal capital, overjoyed on the victory of their candidates. Sweets were distributed among the supporters for the election success.
However, the festivities in PML-N’s camps reached feverish pitch as PML-N celebrated its overall victory, securing the maximum number of seats in the local government elections.
Never far from celebrations, PTI’s female supporters and candidates also joined in the celebrations with sheer jubilation over the achievement of their beloved candidates.
Fireworks lighted the night sky signifying the joyous zeal of party workers as the celebrations continued long into the night.