Imran unhappy over by-election results

Syed Irfan Raza Published October 16, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan at a meeting on Monday reviewed the party’s performance in by-polls across the country and expressed dissatisfaction over the results.

The ruling PTI lost two NA seats won in the July 25 general election by Imran Khan (NA-131 Lahore, NA-35 Bannu), one NA seat won by Tahir Sadiq (NA-56 Attock), and Punjab Assembly seats won by Fawad Chaudhry (PP-12 Jhelum) and Mohammad Khan (PP-92 D.G. Khan) and two KP assembly seats in Swat.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said although PTI had lost some of its seats it had bagged the highest number of over 1.1 million votes, followed by 0.8m secured by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

“PTI and its ally PML-Q clinched 17 seats of the National and provincial assemblies, while PML-N won 11 seats,” he added.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lost seven seats, but party says it polled highest number of votes

In reply to a question, he said Imran Khan was unhappy over the loss of seven party seats.

Imran Khan had won all the five NA seats he had contested from Islamabad, Bannu, Mianwali, Lahore and Karachi in the July elections. He later retained the Mianwali seat.

In the by-elections, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s Zahid Akram Durrani, son of Akram Durrani, won the Bannu seat, whereas PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique clinched the NA-131 Lahore seat.

The PML-N upset the PTI by clinching the NA-56 (Attock) seat with a clear margin. The seat had been vacated by PTI’s Tahir Sadiq who had also won the other NA seat from the district in the general elections.

In D.G. Khan, PML-N leader Awais Khan Leghari won the Punjab Assembly (PP-3) seat by defeating PTI’s Maqsood Leghari.

The KP Assembly (PK-78) seat, where elections could not take place on July 25 due to assassination of Awami National Party leader Haroon Bilour, has been won by his widow despite the fact that the National Assembly seat in the same constituency had been won by the PTI.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan met Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal and discussed overall situation in the country.

They also discussed the by-election results.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2018

By polls 2018

Pakistan

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Salman

Oct 16, 2018 07:50am

Well, unhappy is a rather mild word.

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FIDA SAYANI

Oct 16, 2018 07:51am

Voters verdict after 50 days of PTI Rule. PTI yu are not doing good. If PTI stays with its present performance, the coalition will be dead soon and PTI will find itself in the wilderness.

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Ata Ul Mosawwir

Oct 16, 2018 07:56am

PTI is failing to deliver on its promises. So far does not seems to be trying to bring any change as it promised.

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Iftikhar Khan

Oct 16, 2018 08:05am

Does IK's happiness or unhappiness matter? He knows too well that rigging at the level of July 25th national election was not possible in by-elections.

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Aamir

Oct 16, 2018 08:07am

PML-N did very well in the by-election. I think they have been successful in selling their proposition "vote ko izzat do"!

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Naeem

Oct 16, 2018 08:13am

As an outsider, I think there are two things Khan sahib is not good at 1 - awarding tickets. 2 - resolving disputes within the party. These are the two things that cost PTI seats in every election and PTI should work on it.

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BYE BYE

Oct 16, 2018 08:26am

"mran Khan had won all the five NA seats he had contested from Islamabad, Bannu, Mianwali, Lahore and Karachi Why did he contest only in FIVE constituencies. He should have contested on ALL constituencies. He would have been elected un-opposed.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Oct 16, 2018 08:57am

This is exactly the reason why the nation was constantly requesting that PTI should get their priorities straight. Bringing back the looted money was the only way out of this situation. We have the examples of Malaysia, China and Saudia Arabia where they were able to recover money in quick time. At the moment not a single penny has been recovered. Just a single arrest made and that too of Shabaz Sharif who will be out in no time just like Nawaz Sharif. Others are also roaming freely with VIP protocols. Now where us commoners will go? How are we going to get both ends meet? PTI government you are heading towards disaster because for a common man bringing food to the table is becoming impossible. Sorry state of affairs.

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Mohsin

Oct 16, 2018 09:23am

Managing a party and managing a government are two different streams. PTI is lucky to have won NA60 as well

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Ali Hasan

Oct 16, 2018 09:45am

During by-elections the incumbent ruling party almost always wins. Such widespread defeat should raise serious alarms for PTI.

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citizen

Oct 16, 2018 10:14am

Wake up call to Khan saheb to do something instead of blaming previous government...

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Akhtar husain

Oct 16, 2018 10:38am

By-elections indicate that PML-N still remains a popular party amongst the masses, clearly refuting the ruling party's claims that PML-N is a dead horse now. People still look towards PML-N for solution of national problems. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, PML-N recovered the country from power crisis and lawlessness, as declared in their manifesto. Secondly and most importantly, PML-N infused hope and confidence amongst the people soon after taking over the government. On the contrary, present ruling party has so far painted a picture of despair, uncertainty and incompetence. This is having an adverse effect on national economy which is indicated by downward slide of local currency and share market. The ruling party needs to highlight strong points our economy, even if some credit goes to PML-N.

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Danish

Oct 16, 2018 11:57am

Mr Prime Minister should realize after those by-election that the public not happy with the policies they are implementing. May be those policies are necessary but public is unhappy

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Omer

Oct 16, 2018 12:07pm

It is probably the first time that government lost its popularity within first 100 days. Instead of making excuses, PTI should accept it and work towards fulfilling the promises made. Enough talking, you are in government now and your actions should speak louder.

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Suraj71

Oct 16, 2018 12:10pm

This man doesn't has the support he wants.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Oct 16, 2018 12:31pm

I noted during the by-election the PTI was less active than PMLN, as they held more street meetings and put their points of view through various TV shows. PTI candidates somehow ran a poor campaign that reflected in end results. However, PTI must learn from their mistakes and lack of experience, otherwise, their days in government will be numbered. This is my honest analysis.

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Real salaria

Oct 16, 2018 12:51pm

Looks like the establishment didn’t bother showing up to bat this time for pti

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Azhar jamil

Oct 16, 2018 12:52pm

Good shot by PTI.

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Dr. Siddiqui

Oct 16, 2018 01:10pm

Time for IK to ponder over selecting mediocre people for his team; he ought to get some credible people with integrity, credentials and professional! IK needs to shake up his team real fast!

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LILLY

Oct 16, 2018 01:30pm

@Akhtar husain Wow interesting outlook. Keep it up brother.

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Tuf

Oct 16, 2018 01:43pm

I would give a simple anology. you are responsible for running a family. you earnings are meagure. you have huge expenses. you are covering expenses by taking loans. everybody is happy with you as you are providing comforts to every body without any body making any efforts. once you go, your decendents come to know about mess. Now no body happy as every body knows about the mess. Anyway decendents have to take tough decisions to come out of mess.

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Reality check

Oct 16, 2018 01:53pm

@Naeem start talking about performances!!! His biggest loophole is has failed to walk the talk

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vassym

Oct 16, 2018 02:12pm

i guess there were no boots on the ground to support players of Captan saab, as they can't play under neutral empire ,

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George

Oct 16, 2018 02:12pm

The election result should be an eye opener for IK: one wonders what is the difference between DAR and AU?

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Ayesha

Oct 16, 2018 02:28pm

Imran should beware , the way his new government is proceeding so far, it's surely headed for worse disaster. Please get your act together, keep away maximum party "chamchas' and have only a small cabinet maximum 10-12 people, who are honest and competent. Get rid of Asad Umer and harsh IMF conditions harming the majority of the nation's population and also remove crooked Punjab CM and government/set up and replace with decent rulers. The next 2 months are your last chance.

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imran ahmed

Oct 16, 2018 02:36pm

By-election is eye opener to Govt of PTI. PTI shall re-visit its some decisions on which basis masses have given other side decision. Also PML(N) ,ANP,MMA winning seats showing people are coming back to real world of Purana Pakistan. PTI shall get lessons learned by old democratic govt. and get involved all stakeholders to take country out of economic quagmire. Also PTI shall show that Pakistani still believe in democracy.

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Onion

Oct 16, 2018 02:53pm

Imran unhappy over by-election results ? He should be sorry not unhappy.

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Nadeem

Oct 16, 2018 03:03pm

not his fault,we want Pakistan to be better but with out making wise decisions ourselves.

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Taimur

Oct 16, 2018 03:03pm

This is just the wastage of national wealth. Politicians should not be allowed to contest on more than one seat. Pakistan cannot afford such luxury of these kings and queens. Election commission should make public the cost government take per national and provincial Assembly seat. I think it will be much more than the price at which buffaloes were sold.

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AZulfi

Oct 16, 2018 03:04pm

@Ali Hasan 'During by-elections the incumbent ruling party almost always wins. Such widespread defeat should raise serious alarms for PTI.' You could luck at it in another way. Credit to PTI that they did not use state machinery to influence the poll results unlike esp. PML-N

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kash

Oct 16, 2018 03:05pm

the common folk in Pakistan do not understand the seriousness that the country is in. They only think about the inflation, electricity hikes, gas hikes etc. What they don't know these steps had to be taken by IK in the short term but I still have faith for the long term with IK. The masses must realise thi dire situation the previous two governments left the country in. Even IK didnt realise how bad the situation was. Imran wants to bring in a western style of politics which the masses don't understand, they are used to pkaistani siyasat. Here in UK, with the austerity measures, we also had hikes in utility services but we all got together ande made a fist of it. The awam of Pakistan should also get together and make a fist of it too

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 16, 2018 03:06pm

A big wake-up call but only if they know, realize and understand.

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Shah

Oct 16, 2018 03:10pm

The media went overboard in demanding results within days after PTI formes government. As if PTI or any other party could turn the tide within days of forming government. I believe this must have affected the voters.

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BAXAR

Oct 16, 2018 03:13pm

@Real salaria "Looks like the establishment didn’t bother showing up to bat this time for pti" Yes. This time it was for PMLN. Right?

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Khaja

Oct 16, 2018 03:14pm

If it were a fare election under a level playing field, the PTI would have lost its deposit in most of the constituencies.

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Khaja

Oct 16, 2018 03:17pm

They did not leave any stone unturned for power. They have been ensured it. Now they do not know what to do with it. Only promises without any substance will people show the PTI door very soon.

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Khaja

Oct 16, 2018 03:24pm

@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan If you were given the charge, how soon you can bring back the money smuggled out of Pakistan by thousands of Pakistanis. Don't blame only the politicians. They are only a tip on the ice berg.

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Sandy

Oct 16, 2018 03:30pm

@Real salaria i think they realise their mistake of supporting and pushing thru IK. He will not be able to deliver with the team he has. Its time Pakistan had a government which is non partisan in appointing ministers. That way the best from all parties can contribute to the growth of the nation.

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Ahram

Oct 16, 2018 03:35pm

It’s not going to work like that for PTI.

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OSD

Oct 16, 2018 03:56pm

@BYE BYE Haha. And then PTI would've lost ALL of their seats when the re-election would've taken place without the overt intervention of the Agri dept.

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Umair

Oct 16, 2018 04:13pm

Single person should not be allowed to contest from multiple seats. It is a mockery that people contest from several seats and then there have to be by polls causing loos of time and money

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El Cid

Oct 16, 2018 04:25pm

PM Khan should acknowledge that the results suggests that the voting public wants corruption back. Sadiq and Ameen is not easy to live with.

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Hammad

Oct 16, 2018 05:03pm

Although PTI was able to retain seat in Karachi, but people of Karachi have shown no interest in the election. Now people of Karachi have lost interest in politics and don't care who comes and goes. This is not a good sign for ponders.

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Umar Makhdumi

Oct 16, 2018 06:04pm

A formidable challenge lies ahead for PTI government.

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Najum

Oct 16, 2018 06:09pm

A person getting installed as the PM shouldn't feel sad. Free stuff is after all free.

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L.Ahmad

Oct 17, 2018 02:35pm

Now you know the disadvantage of a single candidate winning multiples seats in an election.

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Ravikiran

Oct 17, 2018 05:18pm

@Sab se Pehle Pakistan Brother getting back money from Hawa Las outside of your country is easier said than done. These things have to be followed up systematically and take lot of resources and you need a lot of leverage. . I know Modi promised the same here never actually materialized. Being a citizen of your nation maybe u need to be more pragmatic about what can be done. I don't think anyone should judge his premier over a course of 3 or 6 months

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Alla Bux

Oct 17, 2018 07:19pm

Why is he dissatisfied? Did he not know the number of U-Turns is the cause of this? Obviously he blames others for this. Will never accept that it is his fault.

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dean

Oct 17, 2018 08:57pm

Give Imran time he needs to clear the mess up of the Shariff Brothers.

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Indian

Oct 17, 2018 09:33pm

When you think yourself as big man this is what happens.

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Pathanoo

Oct 17, 2018 10:55pm

DHARNA Time? The only way if you are unhappy.