Imran Khan’s party wins a landslide in Punjab

Story by  Aasha Khosa | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 1 Years ago
Imran Khan
Imran Khan

 

New Delhi

Pakistan’s political scene got murkier with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) defeating the ruling PML-N by winning at least 15 of the 20 seats in the crucial by-elections. The Assembly segments necessitated by-polls after 20 lawmakers from PTI were disqualified after voting in favour of Hamza Shehbaz of PML(N) as chief minister of Punjab province.

According to Dawn newspaper, as per unofficial results, PTI won five seats in central Punjab, five in the north, and as many in south Punjab. Imran Khan’s party lost one seat in Lahore, three in south Punjab, and one in the north in the by-elections held in 14 districts of the province.
The PML-N that is also ruling at the center won only four seats, as it had fielded turncoats in all the constituencies, except one of Lahore. It seems PTI renegade Aleem Khan had decided against contesting the by-election
 
PTI chairman Imran Khan in a tweet thanked party workers and voters of Punjab for defeating, what he called, not just PML-N candidates, but the entire state machinery, especially harassment by police and a “totally biased” Election Commission of Pakistan.
 
He also thanked the PTI allies — PML-Q, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), and Sunni Ittehad Council.
“The only way forward from here is to hold fair and free elections under a credible ECP. Any other path will only lead to greater political uncertainty and further economic chaos,” Khan said.
 
The by-polls is seen as a sort of referendum on the removal of Khan as Prime Minister and could also pave way for his return.
 
Many analysts say this is a real return of Khan to politics. He has called for general elections under a credible “Election commission of Pakistan.”
 


Besides this turmoil is happening at a time when Pakistan is facing the worst ever economic crisis in its history. Khan had advocated buying oil from Russia although Moscow had later snubbed Islamabad for a similar request.