The party, despite its own former prime minister questioning the electoral process, has though celebrated the win, calling it a victory of the PML-N’s narrative and failure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s policies.
PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: Despite improving its overall position in the national and provincial assemblies, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is reluctant to call the October 14 by-elections fair and transparent, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbassi, during his victory speech on Sunday, said that polling stations in his constituency that he visited were not under the direct control of the presiding officer, alluding to the indirect involvement of the establishment, casting doubt over the entire by-election process that has spelled only good news for the PML-N.
The party, despite its own former prime minister questioning the electoral process, has though celebrated the win, calling it a victory of the PML-N’s narrative and failure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s policies.
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In the by-elections, the PML-N managed to claw back its three additional National Assembly seats and also retained its foothold in the NA-124 constituency. It also improved its provincial assembly position by winning two new seats, taking the number of total seats to five.
It vacated four PA seats, of which, it only lost one to an independent candidate.
The party lost three National Assembly seats and as many provincial assembly seats just in Punjab.
For the first time in recent history, the by-election results throughout the country were not in favour of the ruling party.
Expressing his concerns over the by-election process, PML-N’s successful candidate from PP-165, Saiful Maluk Khokhar said, “Hurdles were being created for the PML-N voters.”
Khawaja Saad Rafique also questioned the Election Commission of Pakistan for delay in counting votes of some of the polling stations in his constituency.
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To a question whether the by-elections were fair or not, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said, “It should not be seen in black or white.”
She said elections would not be fair and transparent until loopholes are rectified.
“Can these by-elections be called fair or not … at this time it is hard to answer as some leaders can have issues with the results, but one thing can be said for sure that the July 25 elections were blatantly rigged,” said Aurangzeb. “The RTS system did not fail this time.”
Despite drawing a comparison between the July 25 general elections and the October 14 by-elections to prove that the former were rigged, she did not term the by-elections fair.
On whether the PML-N had made a scheme to call the by-elections rigged if results were not favourable, she said that leaders expressing their concerns should not be seen as a scheme by the party in any eventuality.
“Leaders have right to point out administrative flaws,” said the spokesperson.
Similarly, Abbasi, during a TV show, also dodged the question regarding the fairness of the by-elections.
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