PML-N accepts results with 'open heart'

LAHORE:

After being bulldozed by the PTI in the by-elections for 20 constituencies of Punjab on Sunday, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said her party should accept the results with an “open heart”.

Taking to Twitter after the unofficial results were announced, the PML-N leader wrote that the decision of the people should be respected.

“There are both wins and losses in politics,” she added.

The PML-N vice president, who is also the daughter of party supreme leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif, further stated that one should not lose heart and weaknesses should be pointed out so that they could be overcome.

She added that by the grace of the Almighty, everything would be fine.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed similar sentiments through Twitter and congratulated the PTI over its success in the by-elections.

He said the PML-N government had conducted free and fair elections in Punjab.

“There was no complaint of rigging or unauthorised use of power,” he added.

The minister maintained that his party had guarded the sanctity of public opinion.

“In the 2018 elections too, these seats were not won by the PML-N. PTI and independent candidates were elected.”

 

Separately, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah maintained that the voter turnout in the by-elections had crossed 40%.

“It may be possible that the turnout in the by-elections would cross 50%,” he added while addressing a news conference in Islamabad.

“[This] is very encouraging as it shows that the people have enthusiastically participated in the elections,” Sanaullah observed.

The minister lauded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding peaceful by-elections.

“The ECP has ensured the rule of law throughout the by-elections and that is commendable,” he added.

The minister also praised the police for their “neutrality".

He said the registered voters in all the 20 constituencies were 4,596,873 while a total of 3,140 polling stations including 739 for men, 704 of women, 1,696 combined, and one improvised polling station were set up for the by-elections.

Sanaullah claimed that out of the total, minor type of complaints were received from only 14 of the polling stations.

“Not a single complaint has been received about the ECP staff, violations of rules and arrangements made by the commission from any candidates and their supporters,” he added.

He said about 185 candidates had participated in the by-elections. “No FIRs [first information reports] had been registered as not a single incident of firing took place at any polling station.”

The minister claimed that the Quick Response Force had responded to any complaint in less than 10 minutes.

Addressing a separate news conference in the federal capital, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said the peaceful election process would herald development, prosperity and reduction in inflation in the country.

Taking a dig at the previous government of the PTI in a tweet, she wrote that no staff of the ECP was kidnapped, no vote bags were stolen, and no ballot boxes were snatched.

She said fortunately there was no loss of life and the phone of the Punjab administration was not disconnected, referring to the Daska by-election during the PTI’s tenure.

(With input from APP)