Unofficial results: PTI leads as ANP makes soft comeback

Workers believe PTI’s ticket distribution policy lost votes .


Sohail Khattak June 01, 2015
PHOTO AFP

PESHAWAR:


As election-related violence gradually subsided, PTI candidates went into celebration mode as unofficial results trickling since Saturday night put the ruling party in the lead – as it was expected. However, other parties also made significant gains across the province, particularly PML-N and ANP which seems to be regaining lost ground after its crushing 2013 defeat.


Who stands where?

According to data collected from party offices and ECP, out of Peshawar’s 92 wards, unofficial results of 51 show PTI in the lead for the district council with 25 seats, while ANP has secured seven. In Charsadda, ANP’s home ground, the party bagged 14 out of the district council’s 49 seats; PTI is in second place with 10, followed by QWP eight and JUI-F seven. Both parties hold an even number of 21 seats in Mardan, another ANP stronghold.

Similarly, in Buner ANP is as yet in the lead with eight out of 29 seats, while PTI follows with seven and JI with six. In Nowshera, out of the total 47 seats, results of 26 have been announced with PTI in the lead with 14 and ANP following with five. ANP is also holding ground in Swabi with 20 seats as yet, independents nine and PTI lagging behind with six, according to unofficial results.

Unexpected loss 

From the results gradually being compiled, ANP seems to be making a comeback at the district and tehsil level. While PTI is still in the lead in the province, many believe it hasn’t been as successful as it could have been because of its ticket distribution policy.

Saad Abdullah, a founding member of PTI in Peshawar told The Express Tribune a majority of the independent candidates who won at the district, tehsil and town council levels are activists of PTI who were not awarded party tickets. “In Jugni UC, PTI worker Saidan Bacha was not given a ticket, but he won as an independent,” said Abdullah.

Giving another example, he said Fayaz Khalil was not given a ticket but he won as an independent for Tehkal town council. According to Abdullah, PTI’s vote bank was deeply divided across the province because even the independents contesting were the party’s ideological workers.

The party did see defeat in several areas, particularly when relatives of leaders were contesting. Yasin Khan Khalil, PTI Peshawar president, had awarded a ticket to his brother Asghar Khan who lost; minister Atif Khan’s brother in Mardan also lost and MPA Fazal Hakim’s brother in Swat also failed to win, said Abdullah.

Commenting on the party’s dismal performance in some areas, PTI organiser for K-P, Fazal Muhammad Khan, said the results are not yet clear.  When asked about the distribution of tickets and its role in the results, he said it was an issue that affected people and their voting.

The organiser said the party’s position has improved considerably in Charsadda where they were weak in general elections as it has won 10 seats in the district council.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2015. 

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