SARGODHA: For the first time, the PTI-backed independent candidates have taken a lead in the National Assembly election in Sargodha by winning three out of four seats whose results have so far been declared while the result of the fifth seat (NA-85) was not declared until 5pm when this report was filed.

Sargodha has five seats of the National Assembly and 10 of provincial assembly. In the provincial assembly also, the PTI-backed candidates won three seats. Another PTI-backed candidate for national assembly has been arrested for demanding announcement of results.

Khuda Dad Kalyar, a PTI-backed candidate from NA-85 Sargodha IV, was arrested by police from the office of the returning office in Sillanwali. He was present in the RO office to demand the results of NA-85 and PP-77 that were still unannounced till 7pm. He was put behind the bars in the Sillanwali Police Station.

The winners included Usama Ghias Mela in NA-83 who defeated former federal minister Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, PTI-backed Shafqat Abbas, a new entrant, against Dr Liaqat Ali (PML-N) and Tasneem Qureshi (PPP) in NA-84and Midad Khan Baloch, PTI-backed, against Javed Hasnain Shah (PML-N) in NA-86.

PTI-backed candidate arrested in Sillanwali; PML-N-backed candidate booked for violence in Khushab

In NA-82, Dr Mukhtar Bharath of the PML-N defeated the PPP’s Nadeem Afzal Gondal and PTI-backed independent Haroon Ehsan Piracha

In NA-87, Khushab, though Umar Aslam, the PTI-backed independent candidate, was taking the lead till dawn but all of a sudden, the PML N nominee, Shakir Bashir Awan, was notified as elected.

In NA-88, Khushab, Moazam Kallu, an independent candidate, was elected. He was also having affiliation with the PML-N.

A letter of resignation of a returning officer in NA-87, Khushab, additional deputy commissioner went viral, saying that he was unable to perform his duty in the circumstances and the last night was a nightmare for him. However, a press statement was issued from the deputy commissioner’s office, denying the RO’s resignation and describing the viral letter as fake but the press release did not carry the signature of the DC nor did it bear the signature of the RO in question.

In NA-88, armed men had invaded the RO office and blocked the entrance by setting ablaze old tyres and sticks while there were reports of aerial firing too.

The Mitha Tiwana police registered a case against Moazam Kallu. As per police report, Kallu along with 400 armed men forcibly entered the compound of the RO office and issued threats, alleging that the RO was planning to convert his victory into defeat.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2024