ISLAMABAD: General elections 2018 proved to be a nightmare for most political heavyweights as Pakistanis came out in large numbers to vote all across Pakistan on July 25.
With unofficial results pouring in till the filing of this report, the winds of change in favour of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) shattered the dreams of several political bigwigs, including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari from the party’s once stronghold Lyari, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from two constituencies, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and twice Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif from two constituencies, Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan, ANP Senior Vice President Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq, Qaumi Watan Party chief and former NWFP chief minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and others.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari lost from NA-246 Lyari in Karachi, barely managing to bag the third place.
Another feature was the defeat of former prime ministers Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Yousaf Raza Gilani. Abbasi was defeated at NA-53 and NA-57 Rawalpindi while Gilani was defeated at NA-158 Multan.
Former federal ministers Tariq Fazal Chaudhry suffered defeat from NA-52 Islamabad, Sikandar Bosan from NA-154, Tallal Chaudhry from NA-102 Faisalabad, Khawaja Saad Rafique from NA-131 Lahore, Baligheeur Rehman from NA-170 Bahawalpur and Aftab Shaikh from NA-55 Attock.
Another major upset in Rawalpindi was the defeat of former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan from NA-59 and NA-63 Rawalpindi while former deputy speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi also suffered humiliation in NA-15 Abbottabad. Former power minister Sardar Awais Leghari was defeated at NA-191 Dera Ghazi Khan (DGK) while former water minister Syed Javed Ali Shah faced defeat in NA-158 Multan.
Former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif suffered humiliation in NA-192 DGK and NA-249 Karachi at the hands of PTI’s political nobodies while Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) chief and former petroleum minister Jam Kamal Khan faced defeat in NA-272.
Former housing minister Akram Durrani was nailed in NA-37 Bannu. The son of former religious minister Sardar Yousaf has suffered loss in NA-13 too as the outgoing minister had opted not to contest this time around.
Former finance minister Miftah Rehman Ismail lost to PTI’s Ali Zaidi in NA-247 Karachi. Former state minister for power Abid Sher Ali faced a rout in NA-108 Faisalabad while state minister for finance Rana Mohammad Afzal from NA-110 Faisalabad. PPP’s former information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira lost in NA-70 Gujrat while PTI’s Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan was defeated in NA-72 Sialkot. Former health minister Saira Afzal Tarar lost in NA-87 Hafizabad. Former minister Abdul Qadir Baloch lost in NA-268 Chagi.
Former adviser to prime minister and PML-N’s chief of KP Amir Muqam lost to PTI’s little-known politicians from two National Assembly (NA) constituencies – NA-2 Swat and NA-29 Peshawar.
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai was also defeated in NA-263 while ANP leader and prominent political worker Ghulam Ahmed Bilour lost against PTI’s Shoukat Ali from NA-31 Peshawar. Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s (MMA) Sirajul Haq suffered a shock defeat from NA-7 Lower Dir.
Pak-Sarzameen Party (PSP) Chairman Mustafa Kamal also lost the elections from both NA seats he was contesting in Karachi. PSP leader Raza Haroon also suffered defeat.
Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders, including Dr Farooq Sattar, also suffered defeat at hands of PTI workers across Karachi.
Meanwhile, former minister Nazar Gondal lost in Mandi Bahauddin while Nadeem Afzal Chan, Dr Zulfikar Mirza, Naheed Khan and Ijazul Haq also suffered defeat.
