PTI witnesses decline in electorate but still wins NA-4 by-election

PESHAWAR: Contrary to tall claims made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders regarding sweeping the NA-4 Peshawar by-elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) records confirm a sharp decline in electorate in the provincial capital for both PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), who are the main coalition partners in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government.

The JI, considered a major partner of PTI-led coalition government, had fielded its candidate who could only secure 7,668 votes, only 5.8 per cent of the total 133,960 votes cast from among a total of 397,904 registered voters. In 2013 general elections, the JI candidate had secured 16,493 votes and remained on third position by grabbing 11.9 per cent of the total 138,352 votes cast during the election.

Similarly, the ruling PTI candidate fielded for NA-4 by-election had secured 45,734 votes, amounting to 34.8 per cent of the total 133,960 votes. In 2013 general elections, the PTI had secured a record 55,134 votes for the National Assembly (NA) seat, amounting to 39.9 per cent of the total votes cast.

During the 2013 general elections, the PTI had taken a solo flight, whereas in the 2017 by-poll, its candidate enjoyed the support of two influential religious parties in the province, including Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam of Samiul Haq (JUI-S) and Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) of Dr Tahirul Qadri.

Besides, all five provincial assembly constituencies falling under the NA-4 constituency, were also being occupied by members of the provincial assembly (MPA) from PTI, including two provincial ministers, one parliamentary secretary, one special advisor to chief minister, and another occupying the chair of District Development Advisory Committee chairman.

On the other hand, candidates of three other political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had improved its position in the NA-4 Peshawar by-election.

The PML-N candidate had received 24,790, amounting to 18.9 per cent of total 133,960 votes cast during the election. Whereas, in 2013 general elections, the PML-N candidate had received 20,412, which was 14.8 per cent of total 138,352 votes. The N-league had managed to increase its vote count by 4,378 votes in the recently concluded by-poll.

The PML-N performed well during the election as its candidate was backed by Fazalur Rehman’s Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) of Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. Additional support to the N-league was provided by Muhammad Ibrahim Qasmi’s Pakistan Raah-e-Haq Party. In 2013 general polls, JUI-F candidate had received a total of 12,519 votes, while QWP had secured only 757 votes. At the time, Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party did not field its candidate and had instead supported the like-minded Muttahida Deeni Mahaz.

The primary and most active opposition party in KP, the ANP had made a surprising recovery in the NA-4 by-poll. Its candidate had secured the second spot by securing 24,874 votes, which amounted to 18.9 per cent of the total votes cast during the election. In 2013 general elections, ANP was on fourth position with 15,795 votes. This time ANP increased its electorate by 9,035 votes, thus, indicating towards the party’s resurgence in provincial politics.

Nevertheless, the ANP hopes of sweeping the recently concluded by-polls could not materialise, even though the party had launched an active and organised campaigned to woo voters. Similar claims were also made by PML-N KP President Engineer Amir Muqam, who had said on the eve of the by-election that his party would prove to be the most popular party in the province.

The PPP also showed some improvement in the NA-4 by-election after its candidate had secured 13,200 votes. In 2013, the PPP candidate had received 1,203 votes. The recent rise in PPP’s popularity in KP had been linked with the successful recent visits of Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as part of aggressive electioneering.

For the time being, the JUI-F move to not field its candidate in support of its senior coalition partner PML-N, might prove costly to the party in future election campaigns. The same situation is also being predicted for the JI.

In a surprising development before the NA-4 by-poll, two new religious groups, namely Tehreek Allahum Labaik and Milli Muslim League (MML), raised their heads by fielding their candidates for the by-poll. This development was being viewed as a threat not only to democratic and progressive minded political groups, but also to the survival of other conservative/religious groups in province.

In the recently concluded NA-4 by-election, Tehreek Allahum Labaik candidate had secured 9,935 votes, amounting to 7.6 per cent of the total votes cast during the poll. Whereas, MML candidate had received 3,789, amounting to 2.9 per cent of the total votes. After gaining some experience from NA-120 Lahore by-election, the two new religious parties had successfully stepped into the politics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.