BAHAWALPUR, Oct 12: Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan will surrender his National Assembly seat from Bahawalpur, it was learnt on Saturday.

According to unofficial results, the PPP leader was declared elected from NA-187 after securing 73,646 votes against PML-N’s Khalid Mahmood Jajja who got 37,071 votes.

Party sources said Aitzaz Ahsan would prefer his Lahore constituency (NA-124).

Political analysts said that former minister Syed Tasneem Nawaz Gardezi, who lost NA-186 (Bahawalpur IV) to Mian Riaz Husain Peerzada of the National Alliance, might approach the PML-Q or District Nazim Tariq Cheema.

Some PPP leaders claimed that their party would filed its own candidate from NA-187, considered to be Mr Cheema’s constituency. The PPP had not fielded any candidate against Mr Gardezi from the constituency.

Meanwhile, the PPP and National Alliance won two National Assembly seats each followed by one by PML-QA in Bahawalpur district.

PPP’s Aitzaz Ahsan took a lead of about 36,000 votes against his nearest rival Khalid Jajja of PML-N in NA-187 (Bahawalpur V). Aitzaz Ahsan secured 73,646 votes while Jajja’s 37,071. Third candidate, Azhar Mahmood PML-QA, polled 17,912 votes.

The second PPP MNA-elect Amir Yar Warren bagged 67,538 votes against 42,870 obtained by Muhammad Safdar Abbasi (PML-QA) in NA-184 (Bahawalpur two).

In NA-186 (Bahawalpur IV) National Alliance candidate Mian Riaz Hussain Peerzada gave tough time to Syed Tasneem Nawaz Gardezi, who was defeated by a margin of about 4,000 votes. Mr Riaz Hussain Peerzada secured 60,455 against his rival’s 56,728 votes.

From NA-183 (Bahawalpur one), Ali Hassan Gilani (PML-QA) defeated his step-brother Sohail Gilani (independent) with a margin of about 20,000 votes. Ali Hassan Gilani polled 51,393 against Suhail’s 30,476.

Of the Punjab Assembly’s 10 seats from Bahawalpur, PPP won four and the National Alliance two seats. The others — MMA, PML-N, PML-QA and independent — won a seat each.

Meanwhile, four women contesting for national and provincial seats were defeated. They are: Mrs Gul-i-Rana of PML-N (NA-185), Mrs Rozina Jamil of PML-QA (PP-276), Syeda Zubeda Murtaza Naqvi (PP-271) and Qamarun Nisa Asim (PP-272).

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...