PPP’s Dasti, Jatt win NA by-polls 

MUZAFARGARH: PPP candidates Jamshed Dasti and Asghar Jutt have won by elections on the National Assembly seats.

According to the unofficial results, Jamshed Dasti from NA-178 secured 52,624 votes while Pakistan Democratic Party’s candidate Iftikhar Ahmad Khan remained second who grabbed 46,235 votes. Thus according to the unofficial results, Jamshed Dasti won the by-elections with a lead of six thousand votes.

From NA-167 Vehari, PPP’s candidate Asghar Jatt outclassed his rival by taking 63,183 votes. Awami Ittehad’s candidate Nazir Ahmad stood second by securing 40,429 votes.

Meanwhile, independent and PML-N candidates have succeeded in their respective constituencies of PP-259 of Muzaffargarh and PP-63 of Faisalabad.

According to unofficial results, the independent candidate from PP-259 of Muzaffargarh, Makhdoom Basit Bukhari won with an outstanding vote output of 32, 512 against his rival PPP’s Sami-ullah Bukhari with 30,247 votes.

Meanwhile PML-N’s Ajmal Asif took lead in PP-63 of Faisalabad with 31,173 votes as against 22,233 of his PPP rival Rana Aftab. 

Our correspondent adds from Faisalabad: By-elections were held in two National Assembly and two Punjab Assembly constituencies, including NA-167 (Vehari), NA-178 (Muzaffargarh), PP-259 (Muzaffargarh) and PP-63 (Faisalabad) on Saturday.

Scuffles in different constituencies of Faisalabad and Muzaffargarh claimed two lives. A man was killed and over a dozen others received injuries when a scuffle broke out between the supporters of two main contestants at polling station No 49 in Faisalabad. 

A schoolteacher, Mohammad Din, fainted during the scuffle and died on his way to a hospital. Later, the police reached the polling station and controlled the situation. 

According to the Election Commission, 110 polling stations were established in PP-63 constituency and eight candidates, including Rana Aftab Ahmed of the PPP and Mian Muhammad Ajmal of the PML-N are contesting for the seat. The official said unofficial results could be compiled by Saturday midnight. The turnover remained around 35 to 40 per cent and the total number of registered voters in the constituency is about 110,000. 

Our correspondent adds from Vehari: Polling for by-election in NA-167 constituency was held here on Saturday. The police took six Frontier Constabulary officials, including Rahim Bakhsh, Munawar Khan, Munir Khan, Muhammad Javed, Nusrat Khan, Nizam Din and Muhammad Sadiq into custody for interfering in the electoral process. The turnout remained 30 to 40 per cent, said an official. The main contestants for the seat are Asghar Ali Jatt, Syed Shahid Mehdi Naseem and Chaudhry Nazir Ahmad Arain. Minor incidents of brawl were reported in Chak No 249/EB. Police allegedly tried to manipulate voters and former MNA Nazir Ahmad Jatt slapped a policeman. The police also misbehaved with media persons in Chak No 253/EB. Three persons were reported injured in the incident in Chak No 493/EB, 175/EB, E-Block, Habib Colony and polling remained suspended after the scuffle. 

Returning Officer Masood Ahmad Malik didn’t allow media persons to witness the polling process inside polling stations. According to initial results of 26 polling stations, Asghar Jatt of the PPP got 7,001 votes, Nazir Ahmad Arain of the Awami Ittehad got 6,824 and PML-N’s Syed Shahid Mehdi Naseem got 2,867 votes. 

Our correspondent adds from Muzaffargarh: One Nasir Ali Ansari, 22, an activist of Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmed Khan, was shot dead allegedly by one Jugnu, son of Fazal Din, in the Shah Jamal area of Muzaffargarh. The accused snatched the pistol of an ASI, Sultan Ahmed, and used it to kill his opponent. Police said Jugnu asked a voter, Nasir, whether he will cast his vote in favour of Jamshed Dasti of the PPP or Nawabzada Iftikhar. When Nasir said he was a staunch supporter of the Nawabzada, the accused snatched the pistol of the ASI and shot him dead. 

Later, the relatives and activists of the PDP blocked the road and staged a sit-in. Muzaffargarh DPO Manzoor Sarwar reached the spot and assured the protesters that the culprit would be held very soon. The protesters were demanding the arrest of PPP candidate Jamshed Dasti. 

In another incident, three persons sustained injuries when the PPP supporters allegedly opened fire in the Mehrpur area.

A clash took place in Kot Ratta (PP-259) between two rival groups in which three persons received injuries. DCO Muhammad Aslam Wazir called out the rangers to control the situation. The DCO said: “Polling was delayed for one to two hours at different places due to scuffle between the rival groups on petty issues.” 

These seats were vacated after lawmakers elected from these seats resigned for having fake educational degrees. 

Our correspondent adds from Lahore: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah said on Saturday the deployment of the FC in by-election was unconstitutional. The FC men have been deployed on the orders of the interior minister and a case would be registered against him. He asked the interior minister to take notice of the situation instead of further aggravating it. He said the prime minister should call back the FC personnel and take strict action against them. 

Six FC men nabbed as polling on in Punjab by-elections

MULTAN: Voting for by-elections is underway for two seats of the National Assembly and as many of the Punjab Assembly in three cities of Punjab and will continue till 5pm, Geo News reported Saturday.

Opponents blaming each other for foul play at several places whereas situation became tense due to the presence of FC personnel at different polling stations in Vehari. Law Minister Punjab has announced to file a case against federal interior minister.

The polling is underway at two National Assembly seats NA- 167 (Burewala) and NA-178 (Muzaffargarh) and two Punjab Assembly seats PP- 259 (Muzaffargarh) and PP-63 (Faisalabad).

Strict security measures have been taken for the elections. Voting has been halted at a polling station in NA-178 (Muzaffargarh) due to firing and clash between supporters of PPP Jamsheed Dasti and Pakistan Democratic Party candidate Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmad Khan. Nawabzada Iftikhar blamed that rumpus has been occurred after arrival of Jamsheed Dasti and his supporters who tortured his polling agents.

District Coordination Officer Mahmood Aslam Wazir said that Rangers have been deployed at NA-178 and PP- 259 to avoid any untoward incident. Police have arrested six FC officials in Vehari whereas 20 FC officials are present at different polling stations. The arrested FC officials said DIG Inayatullah Farooqi deputed them.

Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said deployment of FC in by-elections of NA-167 is unconstitutional and vowed that a case will be registered against Rehman Malik because FC has been deployed on the directives of interior minister.

Provincial law minister has demanded Prime Minister to take immediate notice of the situation.

According to DIG FC Inayatullah Farooqi, FC personnel were deputed to guard federal ministers.

Voting for by-polls underway in 4 Punjab constituencies

LAHORE: Polling for by-elections began today for two seats of the National Assembly and as many of the Punjab Assembly in three cities of Punjab and will continue till 5pm, Geo News reported Saturday.

These seats were vacated after lawmakers elected from these seats resigned for having fake educational degrees. These constituencies include two National Assembly seats, i.e. NA- 167 (Burewala) and NA-178 (Muzaffargarh) and two Punjab Assembly seats, i.e. PP- 259 (Muzaffargarh) and PP-63 (Faisalabad).

There are 22 candidates running for NA-167 (Burewala), but tough competition is expected between Syed Mehdi Naseem Shah of the PML-N, Asghar Ali of the PPP and independent candidate Chaudhary Nazir.

In NA-178 (Muzaffargarh), a close match is likely between Jamshed Dasti of the PPP and former Punjab governor Ghulam Mustafa Khar, while Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan’s son, Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmed Khan is also considered a strong candidate.

Eighteen candidates are running for PP-63 (Faisalabad), where PPP candidate Rana Aftab Ahmed and PML-N candidate Mian Ajmal Asif are expected to have a close contest.

In PP-259 (Muzaffargarh), nine candidates are on the field but independent candidate Makhdoomzada Syed Basit Sultan and PPP’s Pappu Laghari are likely to have a close contest.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has supplied polling bags containing ballot papers and other required material to all 753 presiding officers of the Faisalabad, Vehari and Muzaffargarh districts.

Provincial Election Commissioner Akhtar Hussain Sabir said on Friday that the election staff, including presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers, have been given necessary training for conducting the polls.

Giving details of the by-elections, he said a total of 288 polling stations had been established in NA-167 for 363,091 registered voters, 252 polling stations in NA-178 for 283,623 voters, 103 polling stations in PP-259 for 122,142 voters and 110 polling stations in PP-63 for119,445 voters.

Sabir further said that the Rangers will assist the local administration, police and election staff for maintaining a peaceful and congenial atmosphere at all polling stations.