PP-7 constituency: Taxila by-polls see low turnout

PTI and PML-N workers clash in Ardian Mohalla in an isolated incident

RAWALPINDI: Voting for Punjab provincial assembly seat PP-7 by-elections ended peacefully in Taxila on Monday where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had a tough contest.

The constituency, which covers urban areas of Taxila and Wah and rural areas of Chakri and Adiala, had fallen vacant after death of PTI MPA Siddique Khan. Voting remained peaceful with 2,000 police personnel deputed for security. Personnel of the army and Rangers were deployed inside sensitive polling stations.

Elsewhere, traditional enthusiasm was seen among diehard supporters of the two competing parties but the general voters remained passive with the overall turnout remaining low.

Supporters of PML-N and PTI candidates had set up camps near the polling stations to provide assistance to their voters and even lunch. The candidates also provided transportation facility for the voters since the constituency mostly comprises rural areas.

There was one isolated incident of violence when a fight broke out between PTI and PML-N workers in Ardian Mohalla of Taxila.

Kashif Khattak, an eye witness, said that the fight broke out after some women PTI supporters raised their voice against the vote cast by a woman who was reportedly a supporter of the PML-N. In light of the hostile environment, the PML-N voter raised hue and cry.

Hearing the commotion, male supporters from both camps rushed to the spot and clashed with each other. They used sticks, kicks, fists, and stones during the fight. When the situation spiraled out of control, the presiding officer called for police reinforcement. As soon as police officials arrived, supporters of both camps dispersed.

PTI in ascendency

Different observers said that the PTI was doing quite well in urban areas of Taxila, the native town of PTI’s candidate Ammar Siddiquie.

Umer Farooq, the PML-N candidate, was dominating the rural areas of Chakri, Chontra, and Adiala after many prominent, erstwhile supporters of PTI joined the PML-N and met Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2016.