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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) saw a landslide victory in Punjab by-elections on Sunday, clinching 15 provincial assembly seats out of the 20 up for grabs and dealing a stunning blow to the 13-party alliance led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on its home turf. Despite the win, the party Chairman, Imran Khan, reiterated that “fair polls” were the only way forward, as he called the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) “totally biased”.
PTI’s resounding victory not only shook the ruling alliance but also dented its hopes of completing the remaining constitutional tenure in the Centre. According to unofficial and preliminary results, PML-N could only bag four seats, including Malik Asad Ali Khokhar and Fida Hussain from PP-168 Lahore and PP-237 Bhawalnagar, respectively.
And as news of the by-elections surfaced, celebrities, many of whom had previously been rallying for Imran Khan since his ouster, took to social media to celebrate his victory. “Elated to start my day in Naya Punjab! #PunjabKaptaanKa,” tweeted Elan founder Khadija Shah. Music producer Rohail Hyatt, in response to a tweet by Khan, commented, “Your steadfast persistence has been instrumental in this election victory Imran Khan. I pray a united Pakistan is in the making. Together we stand, divided we fall.”
Elated to start the day in Naya Punjab! #PunjabKaptaanKa 🇵🇰
— Khadijah Shah (@khadijah_shah) July 18, 2022
Your steadfast persistence has been instrumental in this election victory @ImranKhanPTI. I pray a united Pakistan is in the making. Together we stand, divided we fall.
— Rohail Hyatt 🇵🇰 (@rohailhyatt) July 17, 2022
Singer Annie Khalid shared a photo of herself holding a box filled with mithai (traditional sweets), to tweet, “Celebrating the Grand victory in Punjab right here in London with my family, with some ladoos!” In another tweet, she added, “Congratulations my PTI family!”
Celebrating the Grand victory in Punjab right here in London with my family, with some ladoos! #PakistanNeedsImranKhan @DrKhalidSaleem3 @PTIofficial pic.twitter.com/L08zAATszz
— Annie Khalid (@annie_khalid) July 17, 2022
Congratulations my PTI family!!!! @notnotfahad @Mariaakhalidd @ZainRan1407 pic.twitter.com/7SgIXfEH7g
— Annie Khalid (@annie_khalid) July 17, 2022
Actor Shaan Shahid also joined the celebrations. “Imran Khan, the people have shown that they trust you for Pakistan. May the rise of Pakistan begin InshaAllah,” he wrote.
@ImranKhanPTI the people have shown that they trust you.. for Pakistan . May the #rise of Pakistan begin InshaALLAH 🇵🇰♥️💯 . @fawadchaudhry @2Kazmi @arsched @SHABAZGIL pic.twitter.com/mpN6hB5HXt
— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) July 17, 2022
While singer and actor Khaled Anam posted on Insta, "And the ballot has spoken. Aye Aye PTI." In another post he shared a photo of Khan with the caption. "Bravo, viva la kaptaan (long live captain)."
Actor and host Faysal Quraishi also chimed in lauding "Awaam ka faisla (public's choice)." While Iffat Omar, who is a staunch critic of Khan and PTI, shared, "It's about the public and if the majority is with PTI then so be it."
Awaam ka faisla 👍🏼 #PTI
— Faysal Quraishi (@faysalquraishi) July 17, 2022
it's about public and if majority is with Pti so be it...majority wins#ByElection2022
— Iffat Omar Official (@OmarIffat) July 17, 2022
Users on the micro-blogging site couldn’t contain their happiness either. “PTI did not win because there was no rigging. PTI won in spite of the rigging,” shared a tweep.
PTI did not win because there was no rigging. PTI won in spite of the rigging.
— SocialPariah (@Non_graata) July 18, 2022
Several others tweeted in a similar vein.
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