- According unofficial results, Mohsin Legari gets 90,392 votes, Emaar Owaise 55,218
- PTI accuses interim government of harassment of supporters
RAJANPUR/LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Mohsin Leghari clinched NA-193 Rajanpur by-election by securing 90,392 votes against PML-N candidate Emaar Owais Leghari who obtained 55,218 whereas PPP’s Akhtar Gorchani remained third with 20074 votes, according to unofficial results.
Tehreek Labaik Pakistan’s (TLP) Mahmood Ahmad also managed to obtain 3,961 votes as per the unofficial results.
PTI’s Mohsin Leghari emerged victorious after results of all 237 polling stations were received whereas turnout remained high around 47.15 percent in the by-polls.
There were a total of 379,204 registered voters in the constituency including the women.
There were 11 candidates in the run for the by-elections and the whole process remained largely peaceful amid tight security.
The NA-193 fell vacant due to the demise of PTI’s MNA Sardar Muhammad Jaffar Khan Leghari, and Leghari tribe elder, who passed away at the age of 83 at a private health facility in Lahore on Dec 31, 2022.
Earlier, the polling for by-elections in the NA-193 constituency of the National Assembly in Rajanpur ended at 5:00 pm Sunday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said, amidst concerns over security by the Punjab caretaker government.
The seat fell vacant after the demise of Jaffar Khan Leghari, a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party, in December.
The election features a total of 11 candidates, with a highly competitive race expected between Mohsin Leghari of PTI and Ammar Leghari, former minister Awais Leghari’s son, of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The opposition party and its supporters have raised concerns about threats of violence and voter intimidation at polling stations during the vote.
PTI initially nominated its chairman Imran Khan as a candidate for the election. However, the former prime minister withdrew his candidacy earlier this month, apparently in an attempt to avoid potential disqualification in a court case.
جام پور : این اے 193 ضمنی الیکشن، صدر جنوبی پنجاب سینیٹرعون عباس بپی کا مینا لغاری کے ہمراہ مختلف پولنگ اسٹیشنز کا دورہ
آج کا دن پی ٹی آئی امیدوار محسن لغاری اور عمران خان کے نظریے کی کامیابی کا ہوگا، عون عباس بپی#بلے_پہ_ٹھپہ pic.twitter.com/Yhef7eNDwi
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 26, 2023
Political analysts noted that Khan’s withdrawal from the race could have a significant impact on the turnout.
The election commission said there are 379,204 registered voters in the constituency, with male voters numbering 206,497 and female voters totaling 172,709. 237 polling stations have been established in the constituency, with over 200 Rangers personnel serving as a quick response force.
Just two days before the vote was scheduled to be held, the interim government of Punjab requested that the commission postpone the by-election, citing security concerns. In a letter to the home department, the commissioner of the Dera Ghazi Khan division outlined the concerns and requested the ECP to delay the elections.
However, the tribunal declined the request, saying that all arrangements for the by-election had already been made, and the presence of the deputy commissioner, Punjab Police, Army, and Rangers would ensure that any untoward situations would be responded to promptly.
MISMANAGEMENT
PTI leader and former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, who also belongs to the city, claimed “state machinery has been used non-stop to harass and intimidate [the] PTI candidate [and] supporters.”
“Today, insha’Allah the people will come out and defeat these mafias [and] their handlers,” she vowed, referring to the military.
NA 193 Rajanpur bye election today. State machinery has been used non stop to harrass and intimidate PTI candidate & supporters. Today inshaAllah the people will come out and defeat these mafias & their handlers. #بلے_پہ_ٹھپہ pic.twitter.com/sEYJFCqbMI
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) February 26, 2023
Meanwhile, Ammar alleged that presiding officers misbehaved with voters and that the district administration failed to provide support. He accused the administration of endorsing unethical practices instead of preventing them, calling on the tribunal to take notice of the incidents.
Separately, Mohsin released a video message on the party’s Twitter account, claiming a marked difference in the enthusiasm and energy between the PTI camp and those of other parties.
Message by PTI NA193 candidate Mohsin Leghari: #بلے_پہ_ٹھپہ pic.twitter.com/FYFzeELlsR
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 26, 2023
He asserted that attempts to manipulate voters had been made since the announcement of the polls, and accused both the federal and provincial governments of pressuring local officials.
Leghari added that despite intimidation tactics, PTI supporters remained resolute in their support for the party and would make Imran Khan the winner.
