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BAHAWALPUR: The defeat of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidates in 30 union councils of the total 34 falling within the jurisdiction of NA-154 (Lodhran district) poses a serious challenge to PTI secretary-general Jahangir Tareen who is to face the PML-N candidate in the by-polls in the near future.
The PTI could win only four union councils in Tareen’s constituency (NA-154). Overall the PTI could bag only eight UCs in the district as 14 union council chairmen elected were independents while the polling in three UCs could not be held on Saturday for a number of reasons.
The Lodhran district comprises 70 union councils from where the PML-N is already in a commanding position, winning seats in 45 UCs.
Mr Tareen had reportedly been investing generously in these UCs as he had established welfare institutions and two schools for boys and girls.
The PML-N is in a comfortable position in the district council to capture the chairman slot with the possible support of 14 independent chairmen of UCs.
Lodhran’s PML-N district president Tahir Amir Khan Ghauri, who was aspiring for the chairmanship, had already been ousted from the contest as he was defeated with a margin of only 14 votes by an independent candidate.
It is learnt that independent candidates’ group was launched by PML-N MNA Abdul Rehman Kanju and his associates and most of its candidates contested the election under the symbol of bucket.
The independent group has been successful in grabbing 14 seats of chairmen in the district council in addition to 20 seats in wards of Lodhran.
Being an influential political group in the district, Mr Kanju may be able to lure a majority of independent elected chairmen for the slots of district council chairman and Lodhran municipal committee chairman.
In municipal committee, the strength of the PML-N elected chairmen is four while the PTI has six elected men in the committee.
The PML-N has 7 seats, PTI one and independents four seats in Dunyapur municipal committee while in Kahror Pucca MC the PML-N has 20 seats, PTI one and independents seven seats.
The Kanju group may also lobby to capture the chairmen slots in both municipalities of the Lodhran district.
Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2015
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Comments (48) Closed
Nov 03, 2015 09:45am
PTI got 73000 votes in NA 122 and even won PP 147 seat but in LB elections they lost almost all the UC's from that constituency. The dynamics of LB elections are totally different as people do not want opposition party candidates to win because they don't get funds nor can they influence local thana kacheri.
In national assembly election, the dynamics will be different and people would be willing to vote for Tareen since he has done incredible social welfare work in that area, he himself has a strong charismatic personality, PTI would be campaigning big time in the area, Imran Khan would be active and playing a strong role, and there would be less rigging due to high media attention.
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Nov 03, 2015 10:19am
I feel sorry for Pakistan. People here do not visualize that Pakistan require drastic changes to meet challenges facing the nations. Old politicians and political parties who have been tried several times are incapable to deliver. Give Chance to new political party which looks sincere.
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Nov 03, 2015 11:25am
where is IK since the union elections?
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Nov 03, 2015 11:35am
logical defeat. PTI make promises but unable to show any performance in KPK, attract corrupts, don't work but do agitation. In by-elections Jahangir Tareen will face even bigger defeat. PTI must realize that it should stop giving away tickets to corrupts of PML Q and PPP in local body areas people don't like them. Give tickets to educated and young as you promised.
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Nov 03, 2015 11:40am
One should understand the difference between UC elections and general elections
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Nov 03, 2015 11:41am
PTI must be happy that they lost election. If they would have win in majority then Nawaz Shairf wouldn't be given any budget to them.
Now it's PML-N all over. PTI got the chance to do street politics and build a campaign against Nawaz Govt. by demanding work in streets.
They are blessed that they have lost.
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Nov 03, 2015 11:44am
Time for change in policies, agenda, manifesto!?
Or time to revamp the image of the party and bring in fresh faces and new leaders!
Short of that, if they continue to beat the drums over the same slogans, and expect different results, will be pure insanity!
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Nov 03, 2015 11:56am
Well, it is a sad, that Govt. of Pakistan choose local bodies's election run on political party bases, it is really bad idea. It should be done on non political party bases election. why? In the local body leaders will look after the interest of their voters( politically favoured.) The leader will look after their interest only, all other will be neglected from the programmes. This Govt. is the most dirty mind, they don't see through the walls. Please do not play with the people, rather help them. They are your citizen, Pakistanies.
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Nov 03, 2015 12:03pm
To PTI, elections is the be-all and end-all of politics. And there can be only two possible outcomes for them - Their victory or the other guys cheated and hence PTI was the worthy winner.
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Nov 03, 2015 12:38pm
It's the end of the road for PTI. Their only chance to redeem themselves would be to publicly apologise to the nation about their non-serious and irresponsible behaviour. Focus on KPK, you still have 2.5 years to make it a model of good governance and prosperity. If you do that, then you can hope to be the next opposition leader after 2018 general election. Otherwise you should cut your losses and say goodbye to politics or be prepared to become another Asghar khan.
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Nov 03, 2015 12:42pm
Learning point for Mr Tareen, public service is different from public dealing in a business organisation . Suggestion - don't treat people like you treat your employees.
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Nov 03, 2015 02:14pm
@Rahim ; Not yet my friend
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Nov 03, 2015 02:15pm
@Hammad Haider We are are democracy. So there is no ban on wishful thinking and day dreaming.
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Nov 03, 2015 02:16pm
@JZ Very strange logic. PTI supporters are as good as their leader to twist the things.
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Nov 03, 2015 02:18pm
There is no hope for PTI in the future. If they don't admit their past blunders and learn from them.
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Nov 03, 2015 02:44pm
PTI lost its credibility in total when IK started taking on defectors of shady backgrounds from other parties. He should have just stuck to his own loyal workers. Granted it would have taken longer but the results would have taken the heart of the voters.
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Nov 03, 2015 03:01pm
The dynamics of LB elections are totally different. In fact people do not vote for opposition party candidates who, even as winner, don't get funds nor can they influence local thana kacheri. PTI got 73000 votes in NA 122 and even won PP 147 seat but in LB elections they lost almost all the UC's from that constituency.
In national assembly election, the dynamics will be different and people may be willing to vote for Tareen since he has done incredible social welfare work in that area, he himself has a strong charismatic personality, PTI senior leadership would be campaigning in the area, Imran Khan would be active and playing a strong role, and there would be less rigging due to high media attention.
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Nov 03, 2015 03:06pm
Suggest PTI, Serious Change of Plan....
Instead of wasting all your energies in criticism, put your die hard efforts in KPK.
Show the nation that you're performing well on domestic pitch, so you get eligible for the international pitches.
I am from KP, we understand, there's a slight change in Police, Patwari and Health, but I can't witness something concrete on the ground of KP, especially in Peshawar the Capital.
The position of Head of IT Board is still vacant which can give you the idea, how do they weight IT transformation in the administration, which in today's world is a MUST HAVE. Modi has already started implementing CRM in the Fed and States, to go paperless. Which will indeed help quicken the public processes and for transparency.
That's the last life line for PTI to attain PM's slot in next elections inshaAllah.
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Nov 03, 2015 03:13pm
@Nauman M
Agreed with what you are saying.
These polls suggest a worrying trend for PTI.
If PTI could have won these local polls, it would really have shaken the nation, and people would believe that PTI is the real alternative.
PTI doesn't really have a powerful message which resonates with the majority, especially the poor illiterate working class villagers.
The dharna, rigging, democracy etc might be interesting for the educated middle classes in Islamabad to hear about - but the poor farmer wants to know where the next meal for his family is going to come from.
Maybe PTI should tackle the poor farmers problem first - and focus on winning the prime minister's seat later.
To me they have gotten their priorities wrong. Real democratic change comes from the bottom and leaders at the top have to hear the message and adapt accordingly.
PTI want to do this the other way round - a strategy that is unlikely to succeed any time soon.
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Nov 03, 2015 03:42pm
IK must divorce Qureshi, Tareen, and Wada as well to stand any chance
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Nov 03, 2015 03:43pm
@Fazal Karim. How many of PTI's politicians are "new politicians"? IK has not hired new politicians, he has taken people from other parties. Pakistan needs a party that has new blood and not people with previous political back grounds.
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Nov 03, 2015 03:48pm
'group was launched by PML-N MNA Abdul Rehman Kanju and his associates'- I was wondering if Adul Rehman Kanju is related to that young Kanju who was involved in the murder of a young school boy in Lahore after a traffic accident, he was charged for the murder but 20 witnesses at the last moment refused to give statement in the court ?
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Nov 03, 2015 04:18pm
Poor show by pti in whole province not just in Lodhran district.
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Nov 03, 2015 04:19pm
@Jahangir pti showed by performance then rest of provinces though they did not performed as per their own expectation but still far better then rest in police and justice department.
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Nov 03, 2015 04:55pm
I am waiting for Qureshi and Tareen to quit PTI.
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Nov 03, 2015 06:53pm
@Fazal Karim.
Don't worry. Pakistan people are doing whatever is good for them.
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Nov 03, 2015 06:57pm
There is nothing for free in this world, PTI or not.
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Nov 03, 2015 07:18pm
@Hammad Haider A simple question, if you say in local bodies people don't vote for opposition parties for fear of no development, then how come almost 1,000 independent candidates won in the first phase of local bodies in Punjab. What a lame excuse to save face by PTI.
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Nov 03, 2015 07:21pm
Not poor show from PTI, but the best show by the Punjab Admn, Police, otherwise, we live in that area, I am more than sure, Sharifs are taking Pakistan towards another Martial Law.
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Nov 03, 2015 08:05pm
PTI bat is not appealing should have terrazzo for justice !
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Nov 03, 2015 08:16pm
In local bodies election brotheris work more then political affiliations.Local bodies elections do not represent actual positions of political parties.
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Nov 03, 2015 08:38pm
PTI must learn that since their dharna saga things have gone south for them. Imran's style of public speaking hurts him more than he thinks, his party members and those commentators favoring PTI have very negative tone when they are on TV shows. Whether it is Imran in public forum or his party members on TV shows, all are conducting themselves very unprofessionally, the language they use including Imran is abusive and that is not the way politicians conduct themselves, he thinks he is better than other leaders but his style makes him look like another Zilfiqar Mirza . They give the air that they are the only pious lot and others don't belong in politics. I think it is their arrogance that is going to hurt the party and the people will still back the old and the corrupt as they are left with no choice, in short PTI's folly has let masses believe that this party is no different than others
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Nov 03, 2015 09:23pm
Explanations and excuses has to stop. PTI, party of change can not win when the king makers are selfish business land owners /tycoons & pirs / makhdooms. Imran Khan & PTI can win if they go back to common educated men team. I as an objective man see that IK has been deceived by very shrewd & selfish professional politicians along with some stupid journalists who are nothing but fraud. The kind of " senior journalist " who called Rahil Sharif as " sipah e salar azam and "mudabbir" which is far from trurh. Time is now to re-think the action plan & get rid of imposters and self made intellectuals.
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Nov 03, 2015 09:58pm
IK/PTI needs to stand strong and tall on his stances, otherwise people who are looking for a drastic change in the country will walk away from him.
No compromises or U-Turns
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Nov 03, 2015 10:16pm
Defeat of PTI in LBD shows that it has no/limited presence on the grass root level. So a house which has top storey but no ground storey, how is it going to survive?
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Nov 03, 2015 10:50pm
@Syed Ganga Din. The top leadership of the PTI is either from PPP or PML-N except for IK. IK awards top posts in the party to the people who quit from other parties and join PTI. Its the same old wine in a new bottle. Since there are no elections to select party leaders in various regions and real workers have no chance to advance in the Party, the has suffered in elections. Dictatorial decisions by IK are hurting the party and the party has lost its appeal as party of common people. They have nothing to show any development or less corruption in PK province. They always complain of rigging by PML-N in elections without any evidence. Now the independents have done better than PTI. This indicates,IK is no longer a threat to PML-N in the largest province (Punjab). its appeal in Punjab and their chance to be second largest party in the country has diminished drastically.It appears NS has no real contender in the next elections. IK's personal life has not helped the party either.
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Nov 03, 2015 10:52pm
@Fazal Karim. So you mean new politician like Tareen, Mehmood Quereshi, Aleem Khan, and likes of Sheikh Rasheed should be voted to lead drastic changes in Pakistan.
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Nov 03, 2015 10:59pm
@Rahim
I have predicted two and a half years ago, IK is another Asghar Khan as far politics is concerned.
However, Asghar Khan is a better man with flawless past and present. IK looks dwarf in front of Asghar Khan as far personal character is concerned.
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Nov 03, 2015 11:55pm
@Hammad Haider : UCs can only get their budgets from the ruling party. They cannot fight against them and still get their demands. So, the money gets all the sympathies.
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Nov 04, 2015 12:28am
Oranges can not be mixed with Carrots (except in fruit juices) LB pols are different and you cannot gauged them for NA Polls,we must remember that no sitting Govt ever lost LB Polls and on the other hand no sitting Govt ever won NA Elections ever in Pakistan, writing is on the wall.
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Nov 04, 2015 12:34am
@Hammad Haider But how would you stop PMLN from rigging the elections. Obviously Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Shrif have bought out every single person who controls Punjab.
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Nov 04, 2015 02:24am
@Noor. every province has LG election on the party basis. Infact Punjab govt wants initially to have it non party basis but IK said at that time Punjab govt is fearful of their defeat thats why they were willing to have it on non party basis after that Punjab govt challenged to make it on party basis.
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Nov 04, 2015 02:38am
@Anonymous thi time they wll
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Nov 04, 2015 06:02am
@Fazal Karim.
I feel very happy that Pakistan is on the right path. The military intervention of the pas sixty years will not go away overnight but slowly and gradually it is slipping away. I do hope that with another election on National Level will give the civilian authorities the real power.
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Nov 04, 2015 07:58am
@Raghu Excellent point.
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Nov 04, 2015 12:48pm
@Raghu A simple answer. Independents end up joining governments and ruling parties welcome them with open arms hence people vote for them because they know that the independent would join the government.
Secondly, majority of the independents that won are from the PMLN itself.
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Nov 04, 2015 06:02pm
@Fazal Karim. Brother i have given up on the Pakistani public.Seems like they want crooks in power, they certainly dont want change, so really the deserve everything they get.
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Nov 05, 2015 07:23pm
@Muhammed Ali How right you are! It is the people whose blood is laced with corruption. Therefore, electing the corrupt suits everybody except the poorest of the poor. Everybody knows how much of the corrupt's wealth lie in London, Dubai, Swiss banks, Brazil and Malaysia; yet they vote for these corrupts.
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