Former Engro CEO Asad Umar with PTI chief Imran Khan at a press conference at PTI Secretariat in Islamabad. PHOTO: SANA
Internal differences within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over selection of a candidate appeared to have dented the party’s chances at bagging the capital’s NA-48 seat.
Disgruntled PML-N politician Anjum Aqeel Khan, who lost the seat to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) Javed Hashmi, asked his followers to vote for PTI’s Asad Umar instead of PML-N’s official candidate Ashraf Gujjar, sources close to the development revealed.
“Khan feared that his political career would be over if Gujjar wins the elections,” said a senior PML-N political worker from Islamabad.
Khan was hopeful of getting the party’s ticket for the by-elections but a controversy ensued and Advocate Ashraf Gujjar, who was not strong candidate, came out as the party’s choice. Khan still tried to remain in the race until Prime Minister, and PML-N chief, Nawaz Sharif, intervened and ordered Khan to withdraw from the by-polls.
Sources in PML-N disclosed that PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who won the election from NA-53 but was later disqualified over a fake degree, visited Khan’s house along with his brother Muhammad Siddique Khan, PTI’s Member Provincial Assembly from PP-7. The duo allegedly sought Khan’s support for their candidate on NA-48, as well as offering the controversial PML-N member to join PTI.
Khan’s grievances seemed to have boosted PTI’s chances in Islamabad’s rural areas---a traditional PML-N stronghold. Voter turnout at polling stations in the rural areas also appeared to be higher than the urban areas of NA-48. Voter mobilisation in Islamabad’s rural areas is mostly dependent on patronage-based political affiliations.
PTI’s political workers in rural areas such as Mehra Haqqu, a small village on the outskirts of the capital, said the differences within PML-N worked in their favour.
“The Jamaat-e-Islami was already supporting us and the PML-N’s infighting proved to be the icing on the cake for us,” a PTI political worker outside a polling station in Mehra Haqqu said.
Repeated attempts were made to contact Gujjar, however, he was not available for comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (21)
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@Faisal: Last day ET is published women are seen on the streets and what else do you have on the cards for the never-day
@PTI-the sole hope: Just enough of casting aspersions on mandate of others. Army supervised the entire process, what would actually satisfy people, men with boots and blue caps?
ET is by all means biased. . First of all Ghulam Sarwar Khan, MNA of NA53 is not disqualified but his National Assembly's membership is temporarily suspended upon illegally intervention of Supreme Court which is pressing and pressurizing High Court of make (unfavourable) decision of Sarwar Khan's degree's case. Secondly Sarwar Khan never asked Anjum Aqeel Khan to join PTI as he is already being trailed for corruption of Rupees 6 billion and PTI could never afford to bad another scandal by having such corrupt person in their team. . But for sure ET is continuously loosing its credibility upon unconfirmed and wrong reporting and soon they will be looser, In Sha Allah.
All the senseless people here. It's a defeat because the talked about tsunami is nowhere. NA 5 = Pervez Khattak's family seat. NA 13 = Asad Qaiser brother. PTI got votes ONLY because of anger towards PMLN/PPP. This shows they have no vote bank of their own and will slowly even lose what they have. .This easily proved that PTI was nowhere close to making a government even on May 11. + now they should know Karachi is MQM stronghold so quit crying about rigging because you still lost in a free an fair election.
Majority of PTI founding members, workers and voters in NA-1 Peshawar were unhappy over the KPK party leadership decision to award party ticket to Gul , Badsha an Afghan Refugee holding Pakistan, CNIC and ignore Mr Samad Mursaleen, a Hidko and Pushtoo speaking Peshawarirte. Party Workers and sympathizers were further disillusioned when IK publicly defended this decision of provincial leadership in JEO TV Capital Talk Show. The turnout in NA-1 was well above 50 percent in 11th May general election, whereas it dropped to 30 percent in the by election.
@Abdullah: PTI lost NA71 & NA1 PTI retained NA 5, 13 & 48 PTI added NA 27, PK70, pp243 & 247
Totally agree. This is totally biased reporting. ET has some beef with PTI. Shame on you ET. Shame on you. You guys are just propaganda machine not journalists.
The day PTI comes in power, I hope they make it the last day ET is published.
@Aysha M: Afterall all the parties do not have the leverage of openly rigging the elections.
PTI can not retained its home seat..shame on PTI
LEADING FROM THE FRONT "NAYA PAKISTAN? BUT WHERE WAS KAPTAAN IN NA71??
so why PTI LOST IN NA71? just got info IK had to cast vote after 10 years but due to some reasons he avoided this to happen as PTI team keep motivating voters that IK will come and keep changing his arrival time but he never showed up at NA71 ..wow a leader who was asking his voters to vote in by elections in large numbers didnt vote at all PTI PLEASE ITS A WAKE UP CALL for you! its not weak candidate but stubborn attitude of IK PTI CHAIRMAN main reason behind NA71 defeat
The fact is every party lost from their strong hold constituencies.
pti seriously needs a media advisor .. except na-1 pti has retained all seats in kpk and infact has won an extra seat na-27 pti even won 2 more seats in punjab..
Further Jamat-e-Islami did not support PTI in NA-48 infact they openly boycotted the elections. Express Tribune should hire better reporters who can state facts instead of opinions.
same happened in peshawar ...some pti workers indirectly supported bilour because they were not happy with pti candidate selection.. in mianwali ayla malik disqualification complicated matters as it split nawab vote.... mianwali mishap happened only because of wrong candidate selection.
How much biased you can be ET? You cant just accept PTI's victory, keep bragging the PMLN's retained seats. What about the seats PTI won from Nleague.
so u mean to tell us that PTI wouldve lost NA-48 too? thats adding insult to injury
So NAYA and so fair Pakistan, Traditional underhand wheeling and dealing by PTI
PTI lost NA71 & NA1 PTI retained NA 5, 13 & 48 PTI added NA 27, PK70, pp243 & 247
ET please for once admit the fact that Pml n lost and PTI won.
They can't even control their own workers and they're talking about making Pakistan into an Asian tiger.
Pti only lost two seats yet managed to bag 6 and pakistani media calls this a defeat. Lol