Ghulam Bilour express disappointment at Imran Khan's decision. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan withdrew from his NA-1 Peshawar and Na-71 Mianwali seat on Wednesday, Express News reported.
He said he will take an oath of parliament from his NA-56 Rawalpindi seat.
Imran had participated from four constituencies of the National Assembly and had been defeated in NA-122 Lahore while winning from NA-1 Peshawar, NA-71 Mianwali and NA-56 Rawalpindi.
Ghulam Ahmad Bilour of Awami National Party (ANP) who had earlier conceded defeat in the constituency before election results had come in expressed disappointment at the PTI Chairman's decision.
As a rule, candidates who are successful in more than one constituencies have to withdraw from all other seats in favour of one.
Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly mentioned the Rawalpindi seat as NA-55 instead of NA-56. The error is regretted.
COMMENTS (41)
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Everybody wants IK in KPK because they love him madly, they are his loyalists. They want his charismatic presence and IK should schedule regular visits and cast his presence in at least Peshawar so he can retain the loyalty.
@ Vigil, don't worry brother. I feel too that the public administration of KPK is in jeopardy without IK presence.
though good decision Imran ... but i am sad ... will really miss you in KPK ...
A wise decision by imran khan http://www.lolabad.com
Wise decision and this serves as last nail in coffin of Abbasi's political journey.
@MAD: sorry for inconvenience phrase. While I used the word “if” means if possible or if it could be happened it just a view point IK CM KP to height the significance of CM. While it’s clear CM could be a candidate who from the same constituency (province) and also have win election from the same province could be CM. Else IK recommend a person who can really understand things, potentially administrative, think broad, honest and analytical strong and mature and could strengthen the institutions and good governance.
@Confused follower: Each seat needs to be represented by a unique person. Some leaders contest from multiple seats so they have back up if they lose from one seat. For example Shah meh mood Qureshi won 1 from one constituency and lost in 3 others.
So now it is ensured that Imran is in the assembly he will have to vacate the 2 backup seats he won. Those seat he vacates will have byelections. Whichever party wins them w I'll get hose seats. This is why he vacated seats in KPK where it will be easier for PTI to win the seat with other candidates compared to what it would have been in Rawalpindi.
I hope that explains.
That's the end of Haneef Abbasi's political career. Good decision IK Sir
@Vigilant: how ould KP feel about having a CM who hails from another province
NA-71 is a constituency of Mianwali which is in Punjab Province. Please make correction to the headline. Btw a tactical decision by IK and PTI and seems to be a right one. Though even in Mianwali, Punjab Gov will try all means to get this seat from PTI.
@bilal: Yes yes I know I was just making fun of ET writing 55 instead of 56. Some humour thats all :p
Well done.. hats off Mr Khan.. we are with you.. sorry Mr Tahir, Shaami.. Pathans are straightforward and brave people. This decision will not hurt us, but give us more courage. We love Imran, and the people will vote for Imran and PTI again and again In Sha Allah..
Wrong decision. At last the traditional politics has been started. The main problem with PTI in KP is that it has no potential, mature and experience member/ candidate. Who could handle administrative affairs astutely , think broad and could strengthen the institutions and good governance. Instead power politics in parliament if IK himself accept the responsibility of CM KP, then definitely it will strengthen his potential and political career. The government in KP is the first trail and error test for PTI, if it could perform well or according to claim it had made then PTI will survive else it will be the part of history (no future). Performing administratively is not an easy task it needs and it must be handover to a person who can really understand, think broad, honest and analytical strong and mature. Being a party member and good party worker doesn't mean one could have the required administrative potential.
Its a numbers game .. cant loose the presence in Pindi .. its extremely imp now that the numbers add up the way they have added up
This must be because any PTI other candidate can win from mianwali and peshawar (as per the current trend in KPK) but it will be difficult for any other Insafian to win against Hanif Abassi and that too in rawalpindi.
It is not necessary OR required to comment on each of IK Decision. Withdrawl from one seat or the other does not make any difference because he loves all Pakistanis.
@Confused follower, A candidate can contest from more than 1 constituencies and in case the candidate wins from more than seats, he/she can only keep one seat. There will be re-election for the seats that are given up
A wise decision by IK , He should keep the Pindi NA 56 seat as he had very tough competition there where any of his selected candidate can win from NA-1 and NA-7 .- http://www.lolabad.com/
as heart broken as I am on IK giving up NA1 Peshawar seat but It's a good decision. PTI can win again from NA 1 and NA 71.. NA 56 is way too risky
I don't understand how does this work? How is it that candidate is allowed to contest from multiple constituency, and then has to withdraw if won from more than one? What happens next? Does PTI lose that seat?
Its a wise decision as has been pointed out by so many on this page. I want to add that the PTI should give chance the young leadership of these constituencies to contest these by-elections.
I was expecting Ik to keep NA-56. Good decision. NA-1, 71 can be easily won again.
Good Pragmatic decision, Would have been difficult to win back NA56 as compared to NA1 and NA71.
@Fed up: Yes it is a print error, it supposed to be NA-56
@Tahir Ali: It is more like he wants to work closer to the constituencies where PML-N is strong. They will have govt. in KP so it is going to be a model province anyway. I personally think, it is a wise decision.
Very good decision..well done IK
Intelligent decision. Considering the lead of victory in NA 55 was slim, while that in NA1 and NA71 was with a landslide. PTI is bound the to win the re polling in NA 1 and NA 71... however it would've been very tough to win NA 55 again had he left it
......
It's NA-56 and not NA-55Grow up ET !! .......... Why you report wrongly ,when news is about #PTI
@Fed up: Retaining Rawalpindi seat is wise decision. Hanif Abbassi will do all unfair means to re win it if it would be vacated. Peshawar and Mianwali seats can be winned easily.
excellent decision, well done khan !!!
@Tahir Ali: Unfortunately PTI kids are emotional rather than rational. Welcome to Politics my friend. Just ask any Politician who has contested from two or more seats and they will always tell you that they will leave that seat that is absolutely safe. Peshawar seat is safe and in Mianwali it is a tribal seat based on Ethnicity and that seat is safe for Mr Niazi but Rawalpindi is a tough seat and also after abusing of so much Punjabis on the facebook by the PTI followers recently now many will not vote for Imran Khan in Pindi Imran Khan can lose that seat. So it is a safe bet for him to retain the seat of Pindi as otherwise PMLN can bring some powerful personality like Shahbaz Shari to contest against Imran in bye elections in Pindi..
NA 56 not NA 55
My support goes to PTI again in the by-elections. I hope this time PTI will get more votes than before.
Correction: Its NA-56
NA-56 not NA-55
Thank you IK for this... InshaAllah we will retain NA-1 and NA-71 seats too!!
It's NA-56 instead of NA-55 in the first line.
ET it is NA 56 not NA 55
Good decision under the current conditions. Haneef Abbasi should stay out. NA 1 and NA 71 are easy to win for PTI than NA 56.
Good decision Kaptaan. We have voted for Change - for PTI - and will do so again, whoever is the candidate. Love you Kaptaan and Get Well Soon as your team is missing you. Seriously missing you.
Kaptan has let down the province that gave him maximum number of seats in NA and PA
NA-55? looks like Imran is sharing a seat with Sheikh Rasheed :o