Devolution of power: PML-N secures foothold in five tehsils of Rawalpindi

Independents form majority in Kotli Sattian, Kahuta


Mudassir Raja December 13, 2015
PHOTO: APP

RAWALPINDI: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has gained a comfortable victory in the local government (LG) elections in the urban areas of the seven tehsils of Rawalpindi district except for Kotli Sattian and Kahuta.

Under the new LG laws, the Punjab government has set up municipal committees in urban areas of Taxila, Kahuta, Kotli Sattian, Kallar Syedan, and Gujar Khan.

PML-N likely to grab Pindi mayor slot

Meanwhile, municipal corporations will function in urban areas of Murree and Rawalpindi tehsils.

Kahuta

Unofficial results show that the ruling party witnessed its worst ever performance in the LG elections for Kahuta Municipal Committee.

The PML-N could only win one seat of councillor out of 14 up for grabs.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) won one seat each.

Remaining 11 seats were won by independent candidates.

Given the situation, all sides have a chance, when it comes to the election of chairperson of the committee.

Traditionally, Kahuta has been a stronghold of the PML-N.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was elected to the National Assembly from the constituency comprising Murree, Kotli Sattian, and Kahuta.

Political observers, however, believed that the PML-N would succeed in getting its chairperson elected in the municipal committee.

Kotli Sattian

Results in Kotli Sattian were also unexpected for the ruling party. The PML-N won six councillors’ seats out of a total of 14. The remaining seats have been won by independent candidates.

The PML-N, however, will be able to have its chairperson in the committee because some independents are expected to join the party.

Kallar Syedan

In Kallar Syedan, the PML-N has gained a comfortable victory.

Out of a total of 23 seats, the party has won 17 councillor positions.

LG polls phase-III: PML-N gains majority in Punjab

Five seats have been won by independents, whereas the PTI managed to win just one seat. The ruling party is all set to have its chairperson of the municipal committee.

Gujar Khan

Out of total 19 seats, the PML-N has won nine.

Independent candidates have grabbed seven seats of the general councillors.

The PTI has won two seats, and the Pakistan People’s Party has won just one.

Taxila

In Taxila, PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar Khan was elected MNA in the 2013 general elections.

The party has managed to bag 10 seats out of 22.

The PML-N has won 12 and the party is in a comfortable position to get its chairperson elected in the municipal committee.

Murree

In Murree Municipal Corporation the situation is not clear as yet.

There are eight union councils, but the elections were held only in three UCs.

Elections in five UCs were deferred due to pending legal battles.

The PML-N has won two seats of UC chairmen, while the third UC chairman seat has gone to an independent.

The ruling party reportedly enjoys strong support in other five UCs, too.

Rawalpindi

In Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, the PML-N has gained victory in 38 out of 45 UCs. The party is set to get its mayor in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th,  2015.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ