Reactions: Even in ‘victory’, PML-N and PTI trade barbs

KARACHI:

As the unofficial results indicated a victory for Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in Lahore, officials from PML-N and PTI congratulated their respective candidates and taking pot-shots at their rivals all the while tip-toeing around the victory of the other camp.

In Lahore, while the PML-N secured the hotly contested NA-122 seat, paving way for the return of Ayaz Sadiq to the National Assembly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won the provincial assembly seat of PP-147.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz was among the first members of the PML-N to declare on twitter that Sadiq had won. “Lion isn’t coming, the lion has already arrived.” She went on to add that Lahore had put an end to ‘politics of destruction, abuse and baseless accusations’. “A second chance was given to the player who was not given out, but he still failed to win the match.”

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said PTI chief Imran Khan had been declared out for the fourth time – referring to the number of times Imran had lost while competing in Lahore against the PML-N.

“Imran Khan declared out for the fourth time. Land grabbing mafia lost...passion won. Hope Imran would learn his lesson now.”

On the other hand, PTI members believed that a victory for Shoaib Siddiqui in the Punjab Assembly by-poll and the thin-margin defeat of their NA-122 candidate was nothing less than victory for them.

“Losing by a small margin in the NA seat and winning the PA seat against a government with all its resources, including police, is a victory for PTI,” tweeted senior PTI leader Shafqat Mahmood.

Andaleeb Abbas pointed out that Shoaib had managed to beat Kulsoom Nawaz’s nephew to win PP-147. “Mohsin Latif defeated by Shoaib Siddiqui..Kulsoom Nawaz’s nephew wiped out by an ordinary man….beginning of the end of Sharif dynasty.”

For his part, Shoaib SIddiqui thanked voters for spurring him to victory. “This vindicates PTI’s rigging stance of General Elections 2013.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2015.