South Punjab : PML-N rides the victory wave, Peoples Party surprises many

Among 139 union councils in Rahim Yar Khan district, the Pakistan Peoples Party won in 64 UCs

MULTAN/BAHAWALPUR:

Most predictions and analyses had suggested that the seven south Punjab districts that went to the polls on Saturday would prove a point of departure from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-dominated north. The unofficial election results, however, suggest otherwise. 

The final phase of the local government elections was held in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan and Layyah. Apart from Rahim Yar Khan, where the Pakistan Peoples Party won most seats on the district council, the PML-N appears to have swept the union council elections in the rest of the districts. According to unofficial results, the PML-N has secured 78 chairman-vice chairman panels in Multan, 57 in Muzaffargarh, 37 in Rajanpur, 21 in Layyah and 40 panels in Dera Ghazi Khan districts. Independent candidates followed by winning 60 panels in Multan, 18 in Rajanpur, 41 in Muzaffargarh, 48 in Dera Ghazi Khan and 18 in Layyah. The PTI stood third with 30 seats in Multan, 13 in Rajanpur, nine in Muzaffargrah, nine in Dera Ghazi Khan and eight seats in Layyah.

Multan district

Reports coming in from Multan district during election campaigns had suggested that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Pakistan Peoples Party would give the PML-N a run for its money. According to unofficial results, however, the PML-N has bagged 78 chairman-vice chairman panels in Multan district, followed by independent candidates who have secured 60 chairman-vice chairman panels. They are followed by the PTI with 30 chairman-vice chairman panels and the PPP with 12.

Of the 185 union councils in the district, the district council is comprised of 117 union councils and the municipal corporation 68 union councils.

Of the 117 slots in the district council, independent candidates bagged 43 seats, the PML-N 42 seats, the PTI 17 seats and the PPP secured 11 seats.

According to unofficial results for the municipal corporation, the PML-N took 36 seats, independent candidates 17 seats, the PTI 13 and the PPP one. The results of four union councils are yet to be released.  The election was postponed in a union council following the death of a candidate.



Former MNA Sheikh Tariq Rasheed of the PML- N said the PML-N’s performance in south Punjab had mirrored its victory in the first two phases of the elections. “It is a feather in the government’s cap.”

Following a clash between two rivals in UC-109 during polling on Saturday, Basti Malook police registered a case against five nominated suspects and six unidentified men for attacking a polling station.

Police said Mian Umair Marral, a chairman candidate from UC-109, had told them that polling was underway in Government Boys Primary School, Chak 5-Faiz, when 10 men, including his rival for chairman slot, forced entry into the polling station. He said they had damaged cars and police vehicles and shot rounds in the air to terrorise voters.

Another scuffle between PML-N and PTI supporters broke out during polling in UC-38.

In UC-58, a general councillor candidate manhandled a presiding officer and several members of the polling staff. Police said the candidate also threw red chilli flakes in the presiding officer’s eyes and tried to make away with the ballot box. Police said they had arrested the candidate and seized the ballot box.

In UC-41, 10 people were injured in a scuffle between PTI-PML-N supporters and Army had to be called in to intervene.

In UC-02, Ijaz Rajwana, a nephew of Governor Malik Rafique Rajwana was accused of a rigging attempt. His rival’s supporters held a demonstration against the governor.

Rajanpur district

The PML-N has secured 37 chairman-vice chairman panels, independent candidates 18 panels, PTI 13 and the PPP secured one panel in the district. Of the 12 wards in Rajanpur municipal committee, independent candidates won six seats, the PML-N five seats and the PTI secured one seat. Of the 13 wards of Jampur municipal committee, independent candidates took 10 seats, the PTI two and the PPP secured one seat. Of the 11 wards in the Fazilpur municipal committee, the PTI won eight seats and independent candidates secured three seats.

Of the 11 wards in Kot Mithan municipal committee, independent candidates secured nine seats and the PTI won two. The 12 wards of Rojhan municipal committee were divided equally between the PML-N and the PTI.

In UC-67, Pervaiz Gorchani, father of Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Shair Ali Gorchani, became chairman with a lead of 1,700 votes. Safdar Mazari, an uncle of MPA Asif Mazari of the PML-N, also became a UC chairman.

Police arrested 11 people for disturbing polling on Saturday. A scuffle erupted between PML-N and PTI supporters in Kotla, Eison, on Saturday and two people were injured in crossfire between supporters of the two parties.

Layyah district

The PML-N won in 21 union councils out of 48 UCs in the district. It was followed by independent candidates who bagged 18 seats, the PTI won in eight union councils and the PPP got one seat.

Among Layyah municipal committee’s 20 wards, independent candidates were victorious in 14 wards, the PML-N in five wards and the PTI got one councillor seat.

Of Chowk Azam municipal committee’s 12 wards, the PTI secured six, the PML-N and independent candidates won three seats each.

Of Fatehpur municipal committee’s 11 councillor slots, seven went to independent candidates and the PML-N got four seats.

Of the 13 wards in Kehror Lal Eisan muncipal committee, six seats went to independent candidates, five to the PTI and two to the PML-N.

The PML-N won 10 seats, independent candidates took three and the PTI secured on seat out of Chobara municipal committee’s 14 seats.

During polling, the army was called in to settle matters in UC-4, UC-14 and UC-15. At least 10 people were injured in a scuffle in UC-14.

Muzaffargarh district

Independent candidates were victorious on all fronts in the district.

Of the 110 union council slots, the PML-N led with 57 chairman-vice chairman panels, independent candidates followed with 41 seats, the PTI bagged nine and the PPP secured three.

Polling day concluded peacefully in Muzaffargarh district and no scuffles were reported.

Dera Ghazi Khan

Independent candidates swept the most chairman-vice chairman panels (48) in the district, followed by the PML-N (40). The PTI bagged nine seats and the Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam got one.

The PML-N took the lead in district council elections with nine seats, independents got six and the PTI bagged two seats.

Of the 20 wards in Taunsa municipal committee, the PML-N bagged 10 seats, the PTI took nine and one independent candidate won. Of the 13 wards of Kot Chattha municipal committee, the PML-N won eight seats, independents four seats and the JUI grabbed one seat.

Bahawalpur district

The PML-N saw an overwhelming victory in the district. Of the 88 chairman-vice chairman panels, the PML-N took 49 seats, followed by independent candidates who won 26 seats, the PTI won five seats and the PPP and the PML-Q bagged four votes each.

Of the 158 municipal committee seats, the PML-N won 89.

Of the 21 councillor seats on the Bahawalpur municipal committee, the PML-N took 14 councillor seats, independent candidates bagged four seats and the PTI took two. The result of one of UC has not yet been released.

In Hasilpur municipal committee, candidates contested for 34 seats of which 23 went to the PML-N and 11 seats went to independent candidates.

In Khairpur Tamewali municipal committee, 11 seats went to independent candidates, 10 to the PML-N and two to the PTI.

In Yazman municipal committee, 8 seats went to the PML-N, six went to the PML-Q and two to independents.

In Ahmadpur East municipal committee, 26 seats went to the PML-N, 15 seats went to independent candidates and the PTI won four seats.

In Uch Sharif municipal committee, 8 seats went to the PML-N and five to independent candidates.

Rahim Yar Khan

The PPP did better here than in any other district in the Punjab. Of the 139 union councils in Rahim Yar Khan district, the PPP won in 64 UCs, followed by the PML-N which bagged 46 UCs. Independent candidates won in 27 UCs and the PTI in three.

However, the PML-N and independent candidates pushed the PPP out in municipal corporation elections.

In Sadiqabad municipal corporation, of the 44 councillor seats, 23 went to the PML-N, 17 went to independent candidates, three seats went to the PPP and the PTI won one seat.

In Rahim Yar Khan municipal committee, 29 seats went to the PML-N, followed by independent candidates who bagged 17 seats. The PPP won two seats and the PTI bagged one seat.

Of the 12 seats on the Taranda Saway Khan municipal committee, eight went to the PML-N, three to independents and one seat went to the PTI.

Independents won all 12 seats in the Kot Samaba municipal committee.

Of the 39 seats on the Khanpur municipal committee, 33 were won by independents, three went to the PML-N, two went to the PTI, and the PPP won a seat.

In Zahirpir municipal committee, nine seats went to the PML-N, five went to the PPP and four to independent candidates.

Of the 20 seats on the Liaquatpur municipal committee, independents won 14 seats and the PML-N won six.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th,  2015.