PML-N, PPP make gains

Published June 28, 2008

ISLAMABAD, June 27: Major components of the ruling coalition — Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and the Awami National Party (ANP) — have won most of the seats in by-elections to National Assembly and provincial assembly constituencies.

According to unofficial results announced by the Election Commission on Friday, three of the National Assembly seats were secured by PML-N and two by PPP.

Of the 28 NA and provincial constituency seats, the ruling coalition secured 22 seats while independent candidates bagged the remaining six.

In Punjab, PML-N won seven of the 12 provincial assembly seats while the PPP secured three. Two independent candidates were also elected.

In Sindh, where two PPP candidates had already been elected unopposed, the party secured the remaining provincial assembly seat.

In the NWFP’s seven constituencies, two seats each were secured by the PPP, ANP and independent candidates while PML-N won one.

In Balochistan, one of three constituencies where by-elections were held was secured by the PPP while two independent candidates bagged the remaining two seats.

According to constituency-wise break-up: Khanzada Khan of PPP won NA-11 (Mardan-III) by securing 20,896 votes, PML-N’s Mohammad Safdar won NA-52 (Rawalpindi-III), by securing 54,917 votes, Haji Pervaiz Khan of PML-N won NA-55 (Rawalpindi-VI) by securing 25,237 votes, Rana Afzal Hussain of PML-N won NA-131 (Sheikhupura-I). He got 119,180 votes. In NA-147 (Okara-V), Khurram Jehangir Wattoo of the PPP won the by-polls by bagging 79,195 votes.

Details of by-polls for Punjab Assembly seats showed that Qasim Zia of the PPP won PP-59 (Faisalabad-IX) by securing 32,915 votes, Rana Sanaullah Khan of PML-N won PP-70 (Faisalabad-XX) by getting 23,070 votes, PPP’s Qaisar Iqbal Sindhu won PP-99 (Gujranwala-IX) by getting 33,943 votes, Maj (retd) Zulfiqar Ali Gondal of PPPP won PP-118 (Mandi Bahauddin-III) by getting 20,859 votes, Rana Shamim Ahmed Khan of PML-N won PP-124 (Sialkot-IV) by getting 24,994 votes, Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri of PML-N won PP-154 (Lahore-XVIII) by bagging 8,211 votes, Rana Muhammad Arshad of PML-N won PP-171 (Nankana Sahib-II) by securing 22,715 votes. PP-219 (Khanewal-VIII) was won by Karam Dad Wahla, an independent candidate, by securing 38,098 votes. Sardar Wajid Ali of PML-N won PP-229 (Pakpattan-III) by getting 24,989 votes, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa of PML-N won PP-243 (Dera Ghazi Khan-IV) by getting 27,829 votes, Makhdoom Haroon Ahmed Sultan Bokhari, an independent candidate, won PP-258 (Muzaffargarh-VIII) seat by getting 23,829 votes, Mian Fida Hussain of PML-N won PP-277 (Bahawalnagar-I) by getting 32,706 votes. Syed Abdul Qadir Gillani of the PPP had already been declared the unopposed winner of PP-295 (Rahim Yar Khan-XI).

Sindh Assembly by-election results are as following: Pir Syed Mohammad Bachal Shah of the PPP won PS-30 (Khairpur-II) by getting 23,548 votes. Two other PPP candidates – Pir Amir Ali Shah and Sharjeel Inam Memon – had already been declared unopposed winners from PS-44 (old Hyderabad-II) and PS-62 (Tharparkar-III), respectively.

In NWFP assembly bye-polls, ANP’s Mohammad Taimoor Khan won PF-20 (Charsadda-IV) seat by getting 8,351 votes, Taj Mohammad Khan Tarand, an independent candidate, won PF-59 (Battagram-I) seat by getting 16,528 votes, Dr Mohammad Khalid Raza Pir Zakori Sharif, another independent candidate, won PF-75 (Lakki Marwat-II) seat by bagging 24,997 votes, Sher Shah Khan of the ANP won PF-81 (Swat-II) by getting 7,731 votes, Mohammad Anwar Khan of the PPP won PF-91 (Upper Dir-I) seat by getting 14,445 votes and Badshah Saleh of PPPP won PF-92 (Upper Dir-II) seat by securing 11,997 votes.

In by-polls for Balochistan Assembly constituencies, PPP’s Asfandyar Khan Kakar won PB-9 (Pishin-II) seat by getting 15,182 votes, Nawabzada Tariq Magsi, an independent candidate, won PB-32 (Jhal Magsi Old Kacchi-III) seat by getting 56,261 votes and Pir Abdul Qadir Al Gillani, another independent candidate, won the seat from PB-44 (Lasbela-I) by securing 16,911 votes. –APP

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