Rajanpur by-election
PTI’s Mohsin Leghari comfortably beat PML-N’s Ammar Leghari in the NA-193 Rajanpur by-election, with the former Punjab finance minister bagging almost twice as many votes as his opponent. At various points in the day, each side accused the other of irregularities, but given the wide margin, it is unlikely that any irregularities would have made a significant enough difference to change the result. Complaints about voter turnout had some validity — only 41%, according to initial estimates — but it is worth remembering that turnout is usually much lower during by-elections. At the bare minimum, the wide victory margin reflects the PTI’s ability to motivate its supporters to show up, while the PML-N and other parties in the ruling coalition are facing a wave of discontent brought on by the flailing economy.
Say what you will about the PTI’s narrative or its role in the economic crisis, the fact remains that Imran Khan’s party remains undisputed as the most popular political party in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and would almost certainly emerge with majorities in both those provinces if elections were held anytime soon, and would also likely be the largest single party in the National Assembly. An outright majority may even be possible if it improves its performance in Sindh and Balochistan.
However, it must be noted that this particular election was more illustrative of the depth of family politics in Pakistan, rather than the strength of any one party. Mohsin is among a dozen members of the Leghari family that have held elected office, including his father. His opponent, Ammar, is the son of his cousin, former federal minister Awais Leghari, and the grandson of former president Farooq Leghari. Jaffar Leghari, upon whose death the National Assembly seat fell vacant, was Mohsin’s uncle. While several factors at play could hit the PTI’s popularity by the time general elections are held, it is increasingly clear that all parties are united in their love for political dynasties.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2023.
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