WEB DESK, July 18(ABC): Celebrations in the PTI camp were in full swing on Sunday night as preliminary, unofficial results in the by-election on 20 constituencies of Punjab, showed the party has decimated its rival, the PML-N, in the contest to snatch back control of the province.
In a recount of votes for the Punjab chief minister election on July 22, in accordance with the Lahore High Court order, the PTI is now poised to win, in effect removing PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz from office.
According to the unofficial final count from Sunday’s polls, the PTI won 15 seats, while the PML-N managed to clinch victory in only four, and an independent candidate grabbed one.
The PML-N was gracious in defeat, with party vice president Maryam Nawaz saying the party should accept the results “wholeheartedly” and “bow before the people’s choice”.
The PTI thanked Punjab and lauded the people for their “bravery”.
“With this historic win you have told the world we are a self-respecting nation. Now whatever the Pakistani people decide, will happen. No foreign power has the right to decide our fate,” a message from the party’s official Twitter account said.
Late night Rawalpindi tussle
Past midnight, a tussle to claim victory for PP 7 Rawalpindi II took place between PML-N and PTI.
Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb claimed that PML-N has won the constituency and that PTI workers are “threatening and harrassing” the returning officer.
“PTI leaders have forced their way into the returning officer’s office and with bullying, threats and thuggery are trying to put him under pressure, which is condemnable. PTI must not make a transparent election controversial,” she wrote.
Her tweet came in response to one by PTI’s Asad Umar who claimed the results for the constituency are “being withheld”.
He urged party workers to remain at the polling station until they get the result.