LODHRAN: Unofficial, provisional results of NA-154 by-polls from all 338 polling stations have declared Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Iqbal Shah victorious with 116,590 votes, while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Ali Tareen stood second with 91,230.
Independent candidate Malik Muhammad Azhar managed to secure 10,212 votes, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Mirza Muhammad Ali Baig managed to bag 3,175 votes.
The NA-154 seat fell vacant when PTI’s Jahangir Tareen was disqualified by the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan in non-declaration of properties and assets case on technical grounds. Jahangir also resigned as party’s secretary general after the apex court’s judgement.
Talking to the media, Jahangir said that PTI will accept the result, regardless of if it is in favour or against the party and that there is no possibility of rigging since army personnel are deployed in the constituency.
Responding to a question regarding Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s code of conduct violation notice to PTI for conducting rally in Lodhran despite the commission directing them not to, Tareen said that the party would send an official response soon.
Punjab government has deployed over 4,000 security official, including army officers, to avoid an mishap and also to ensure free and fair voting in the region.
PML-N leaders announce victory on Twitter
PML-N leaders, including Shahbaz Sharif, Saad Rafiq and Maryam Nawaz took to Twitter to congratulate the party for its triumph in PTI’s Punjab stronghold.
Thank you Lodhran for your trust in the leadership of PMLN… It's your victory… And we will continue to serve you… Congratulations to all the PMLN workers and our victorious candidate Iqbal Shah sb.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 12, 2018
الحمد للّٰہ رب العلمین۔
خُدا تجھے نواز رھا ھے نواز شریف۔
اھلِ لورھراں نے گالیوں دھرنوں اور سازشوں کو ووٹ کی طاقت سے مسترد کر دیا۔
— Khawaja Saad Rafique (@KhSaad_Rafique) February 12, 2018
عوام نے واضح کردیا کہ ووٹ کے تقدس کو پامال نہیں ہونے دیا جائیگااور نوازشریف کی قیادت میں ووٹ کی حُرمت کا کارواں منزل پر پہنچ کر ہی دم لے گا!
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) February 12, 2018