BAHAWALPUR: PTI and PML-N managed to win two NA seats each while fifth seat went to PML-Q in the district.

According to liaison officer (Senior Civil Judge) Intikhab Alam of the district returning officer (DRO) Chaudhury Tariq Javed, the district and sessions judge (D&SJ), Bahawalpur, Farooq Azam Malik of PTI won NA-170 by bagging 84,495 votes against PML-N’s former federal minister Baleeghur Rehman who got 74694 votes.

PTI’s Samiul Hassan Gilani with 63884 votes won NA-174 and defeated Nawab Salahuddin’s son Prince Bahawal Abbasi (independent) who obtained 58092 votes. His step-brother Makhdum Ali Hassan Gilani got 51,359 votes and played a major role in his defeat. Ali Hassan Gilani contested on PPP ticket after defecting from the PML-N before the election

The Nawabs have following in Ahmedpur East and Chhannigoth areas. On Thursday a large number of supporters and voters of Prince Bahawal Abbasi protested at Abbasia Chowk in Ahmedpur East and blocked the national highway which caused hours long blockade.

In NA-171, PML-N’s Riaz Hussain Peerzada obtained 99202 votes and defeated PTI’s Naeemuddin Wariach. Independent candidate Tariq Cheema’s 23012 votes benefited Peerzada since Cheema and Wariach were close to the PML-Q leadership which had an electoral adjustment with the PTI. Peerzada won this seat for the third time.

PML-N’s Mian Najeebuddin Owaisi secured 86142 votes in NA-173 and defeated PTI’s Ms Khadeja Warren who managed 60211 votes. It was a major upset for the PTI.

Tariq Cheema of PML-Q won NA-172 with 102315 votes against his arch rival PML-N’s Saood Majid Chaudhury who managed 96770 votes. Saood Majid Ch had defeated former Punjab chief minister Chaudhury Pervaiz Elahi from this seat in 2013.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2018