GUJAR KHAN: National Assembly (NA) Speaker and former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has won Gujar Khan constituency by securing 112,265 votes against his unexpected opponent Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Tariq Aziz Bhatti, who bagged 91,547 votes.

While his arch rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Raja Jawaid Iklas stopped short of securing 72,061 votes, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) Ch Mohammad Riaz could get 37,000 plus votes.

While at the PP-8 contests, PTI former MPA Ch Jawaid staged his return by securing 47,526 votes against Raja Khurram Pervez Ashraf, who secured 40,663, and PML-N’s candidate Ch Iftikhar Warsi could get 27,577 votes.

At PP-9, PML-N Raja Shauket Aziz Bhatti stood victorious by securing 50,560 votes against Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Ch Sarfraz Khan’s 43,528 votes, while PTI’s Muneer Bhatti secured 35,871 votes.

The tough contests between the candidates for NA and provincial seats proved quite nail-biting, as the results were reaching the ARO offices late from the remote areas.

These delays and unbridled speculations on social media gave rise to rumours.

However, the final count at 4 p.m. at the ARO/RO Office announced Raja Pervez Ashraf victorious by a clear margin of over 20,000.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2024