PTI celebrates thumping victory in Fazl’s hometown

Boasting the overwhelming victory of PTI candidates during the re-polling of Local Government elections, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mehmood Khan on Monday said the results proved that the masses have full confidence in the party's leadership and its policies.

Congratulating the party workers, the CM said PTI candidates got a huge mandate from DI Khan, Karak, Bannu and other districts. The win was directly linked with the efforts and unity of the party workers and leaders.

He also appreciated the district administrations and law enforcing agencies over the peaceful conduct of the re-polling and hoped that the same measures would be ensured in the second phase of the elections.

The provincial chief executive foresaw an overwhelming victory of PTI in the second phase of LG polls and advised party workers to fully participate in the second phase of the polls with the same spirit and unity.

Lambasting the opposition parties, CM Mehmood said the results of re-polling proved that people rejected opposition parties, adding that those who were threatening to overthrow the government had lost elections from their own constituencies.

He concluded that the opposition parties were afraid of the popularity of Prime Minister Imran Khan and PTI was the only hope for the masses.

On the other hand, Minister for Information Technology and Food, Atif Khan said the huge electoral gains in the LG polls was a major setback for opposition parties.

In a statement, he said that the PTI victory in D I Khan mayoral election, unprecedented results in Bannu and a clean sweep in Karak showed that people had reposed confidence in policies of the K-P government and leadership of PM Imran.

The minister maintained that these victories would mark another chapter in PTI politics and boost confidence of its workers.  “Once again PTI proved it was the single largest political party of K-P and it would sweep the next phase of LG polls,” he said. “Party's workers would remain steadfast and keep supporting Imran Khan in his struggle to change the system.”

PTI outclassed all political parties and independent candidates including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and JUI-F during by-elections held in parts of K-P on Sunday.

According to provisional consolidated results issued by the respective returning officers, the Mayor seat of City Council DI Khan was clinched by PTI's Umar Amin Khan securing 63,753 votes while Muhammad Kafeel Khan of JUI-F stood runner up with 38,891 votes whereas PPP's Faisal Karim Kundi got 32,788 votes.

DI Khan is the hometown of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman whose candidate had faced crushing defeat at the hands of PTI's Umar Amin.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2022.