MULTAN: The PML-N has emerged as the largest party in the district at all three forums of municipal corporation, district council and municipal committees.

According to unofficial results, the PML-N won 36 out of 68 municipal corporation seats. The independents obtained 17, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf 13 and the PPP managed to get one seat. The results for UC-58 is pending after the clash between two groups.

For district council’s 117 seats, the PML-N aspirants secured 42, independents 42, PPP 11 and PTI 14. The result of four UCs is pending while election could not be held in one UC because of the death of vice chairman slot candidate.

In Jalalpur Pirwala Municipal Committee, the PML-N fielded eight candidates out of which three made it to the MC; however PML-N aspirants and those supported by its parliamentarians clinched six out of 12 seats. The remaining slots were won by the independents supported by former provincial minister Rana Qasim Noon.

Although Mr Noon is a PTI member, he preferred to get his candidates contested as independents.

In Shujaabad, the PML-N did not award tickets for municipal committee because of grouping. The group of PML-N MNA Syed Javed Ali Shah obtained nine seats and MPA Rana Ejaz Noon’s faction got three slots. Mr Noon had fielded his candidates jointly with PTI’s Ibrahim Khan; however their groups could not win majority.

People rejected many of the relatives of the prominent political figures of the district, including the son-in-law of Javed Hashmi.

The PTI sources claimed that former MPA Syed Mujahid Ali Shah, the cousin of MNA Javed Ali Shah, was defeated by Mian Husain Abdullah of Noon Group from UC-141.

Mr Abdullah told the media that he was declared successful by 62 votes but later an application was submitted by Mr Shah for a recount. He said Khadim Husain, a supporter of Mr Shah, wasted his votes by putting double stamps on his ballots.

He said police registered a case against Khadim Husain and arrested him.

He said the votes where double stamps had been affixed were counted and Mujahid Shah was declared successful by 47 votes.

Mr Shah alleged that the supporters of his rival candidate tortured his men during recount.

Zahid Bahar Hashmi, son-in-law of Javed Hashmi, Rai Arif Mansab, son of MPA Rai Mansab Ali, Azhar Maqbool Bhutta, the brother of PML-N MPA Shahzad Maqbool Bhutta were the prominent figures who lost the election.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2015