 "Supporters of PTI gather as they prepare for the by-elections. Source: File Photo/ Reuters")
The workers and supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) took to the streets as the party emerged victorious in Pakistan’s 2024 by-election.
Amid the ongoing political and economic turmoil, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party won most of the National and provincial assembly seats in the polls which took place on April 21, Geo News reported.
According to the unofficial and inconclusive results, the party won at least two out of the five National Assembly seats. Sharif’s party also managed to clinch 10 out of the 16 seats in the provincial legislatures.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, managed to win one seat each in the provincial assemblies.
PML-N has also secured the Wazirabad seat from the PTI. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the daughter of the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari was elected unopposed on the NA-207 Shaheed Benazirabad seat.
Polls marred with violence
Just like the general election, the by-polls in Pakistan were also marred with violence and claims of election rigging. During the polling day, at least one person died in Zafarwal, Punjab after clashes broke out between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) workers in PP-54 by-elections.
Reports also emerged that armed men kidnapped polling staff at a polling station in Balochistan.
In light of this, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said in a statement that they have taken notice of the irregularities and violence that engulfed the country during the polls.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAccording to the press release, the electoral body said that they took action on the killing of a man near a polling station in Narowal constituency and the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja discussed the issue with relevant police officials.
‘Voters rejected PTI’: PML-N
Amid the chaos, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed that his party, PML-N’s victory in the polls was a “manifestation of people’s trust” in the incumbent government’s policy."
He insisted that the results were the “clear rejection of PTI’s false narrative” which he claimed was created by the party’s founder Imran Khan behind bars.
“Preliminary results of today’s by-polls have validated the fact that the people of Pakistan firmly believe in the leadership of the PML-N,” the minister said in a video message.
Tarar went on to accuse the PTI leadership of “conspiring against the country”. “They are issuing statements from jails that have seriously damaged the credibility of Pakistan at the international level.”
“People have rejected the PTI founder’s politics of hatred, chaos, division, falsehood and hypocrisy,” the minister said in an apparent reference to the incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan.