PHOTO: ONLINE
LAHORE / RAWALPINDI:
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) consolidated its position in the third phase of local government elections in Punjab, posting a clear majority in 11 of the 12 districts where polls were held on Saturday, including the cities of Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Multan. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) though was in the lead in Rahim Yar Khan.
According to unofficial results, the PML-N managed to secure 1,004 seats with a clear majority in Multan, Narowal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, Jhang, Rawalpindi, Muzaffargarh, and Layyah. Independents have secured 956 seats, PTI 259 seats, PPP 110 seats and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid 25 seats.
“The PML-N has won a clear majority and can easily form a local governments in 11 districts,” a senior PML-N leader told The Express Tribune.
“Only in Rahim Yar Khan has the PPP won a majority, but the PML-N can make a government with the help of independent candidates.”
The results strengthen PML-N’s position in Punjab having already swept the first two phases of local government elections.
Independents could settle Rahim Yar Khan
In a surprising move, the PPP has managed to bag a narrow majority of 66 seats in Rahim Yar Khan, a small indicator that the party could be on the mend in its traditional stronghold of south Punjab.
However, with the PML-N bagging 41 seats, it could be the 28 successful independent candidates who could settle the district. The PTI could only secure 13 seats in the district.
“If the PML-N can woo [enough] independents it is welcome to make a government, but it should not resort to horse-trading or force,” former Punjab governor and PPP leader Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood told The Express Tribune.
However, PML-N MP from Rahim Yar Khan, Muhammad Ejaz Shafi, said that the ruling party could easily gain muster enough support to form a government and claim the 12th district as well.
“Most of the independents are PML-N workers. They are with us and we will make a government here comfortably.”
PML-N wins Rawalpindi
While the competition was tough when Islamabad went to the polls last week, it was a completely different picture in its twin city of Rawalpindi on Saturday.
Unofficial results show that ruling party has bagged a whopping 109 seats in the city, with independents winning as many as 53 seats.
PTI and its allied Awami Muslim League had won the national assembly seats from the city, with the former’s chairman Imran Khan opting to secure his passage to parliament via NA-56 Rawalpindi VII. But both parties failed miserably during Saturday’s local government polls as they mustered only one seat each.
With a clear majority (35 of the 46 union councils), the PML-N is now looking forward to elect its own mayor and deputy mayor in the city.
The top choice for mayor is PML-N Rawalpindi president Sardar Naseem. Sajjad Khan, meanwhile, is eyeing the slot for deputy mayor of the city.
Further, the ruling party is expected to woo the independent candidates to establish their majority in the district councils as well.
Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has congratulated the winning PML-N candidates on their victory. He added that the polls proved that the May 2013 general elections were transparent.
In other places, PML-N won 82 seats in Multan followed by independents with 55 seats, PTI with 31 seats, and PPP 12 seats and is now eying the mayor’s seat. In Narowal, independents bagged 42 seats while the PML-N won 30 seats. In Sialkot, where PTI held a massive rally on November 30, it could only secure 10 seats, as compared to 65 of PML-N. Independents have won 28 seats in the city.
PMLN bagged 44 seats in Rajanpur, PTI 32 seats while independents won 11 seats. In Bahawalpur, PMLN has won 63 seats, PTI seven while independents won 30 seats. Independents won 74 seats in Jhang, with the PML-N trailing with 17 seats.
In Muzaffargarh, PML-N has won 57 seats, PPP three and independents won 40 seats. In Layyah, PML-N secured 20 seats with independents winning 16 seats. The PML-N also gained honours in Khushab with 17 seats, while PTI could only manage 13 seats. Independents bagged 18 seats
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2015.
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