SWABI, Aug 23: Celebrations continued on Friday at the residence of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar here after the victory of his brother from NA-13, Swabi-II by-election.

People from different parts of the district continued pouring at Mr Qaisar’s residence amid drumbeats and dancing by the rejoiced supporters.

Aqibullah Khan emerged victorious from NA-13, bagging 43,333 votes against JUI-F’s Maulana Darvaish who received 32,300 votes, according to unofficial results.

Speaking to supporters, Aqibullah Khan said he had inflicted ignominious defeat on his rival candidate who was supported by Awami National Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The seat had been vacated by Asad Qaisar after he was elected provincial assembly speaker.

In the by-election, the PTI was backed by Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan, JUI-Nazriati, Qaumi Watan Party and Pakistan People’s Party.

In May 11 elections, Asad Qaisar had also defeated Mr Darvaish.

Meanwhile, the JUI-F leaders alleged that their allied partners, ANP and PML-N, failed to support them with full vigour and their lack of interest led to the defeat of their candidate.

They said that none of the 456 registered women voters could cast their ballot in polling station No-95.

The turnout in the constituency was low as compared to the May 11 elections, standing at 22.12 per cent as against 40.96 per cent in the general election. —Correspondent