PTI sweeps by-poll to retain NA-193 Rajanpur seat

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 27 Feb 2023

As per unofficial results from all polling stations in the NA-193 Rajanpur by-election, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Mohsin Leghari swept with over 90,000 votes.

Results from all 237 polling stations of the constituency were received around midnight.

According to the unofficial results, Leghari polled 90,392 votes to retain the seat. It was previously held by his uncle, Jaffar Leghari, and had fallen vacant after Leghari senior’s death in December 2022.

His rival, PML-N’s Ammar Awais Leghari, clinched the second spot, obtaining 55,218 votes, while the PPP’s Akhtar Gorchani trailed far behind with 20,074 votes.

However, much before the vote count was complete and results announced, the PTI jumped up to pre-empt its victory.

In a tweet, the party’s official Twitter account shared a photograph of a smiling party chief, and said people have proved in all the by-elections held in the last 10 months that the power of vote rests only with Imran Khan

Time to poll votes in the by-election on Rajanpur’s NA-193 ended at 5pm. Only the voters present inside polling stations will be allowed to cast their ballots.

A tough contest is expected between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Mohsin Leghari and the PML-N’s Ammar Awais Leghari.

Despite the provincial government’s request to defer the by-polls due to security concerns, voting for the National Assembly constituency of NA-193 in Rajanpur began on schedule on Sunday.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) turned down the request and confirmed that the polling kicked off at 8 am and will continue till 5 pm without intervals.

The ECP has established a control room at its secretariat to monitor the election and address any complaints regarding the polling.

There are 11 candidates contesting the by-polls, and there are 379,204 registered voters in the constituency, of which 206,497 are male and 172,709 are female.

The ECP has set up 237 polling stations in the constituency, where police personnel have been deputed for security, while 200 Punjab Rangers personnel are fulfilling duties as a quick response force.

The electoral body has warned that strict action will be taken against those who violate the election code of conduct or disrupt the polling process.

The Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) had nominated Mohsin Leghari to contest the by-polls on Rajanpur’s NA-193, after PTI chief Imran Khan withdrew his nomination papers due to fears of disqualification in the Tyrian White case.

Ammar Awais Laghari is contesting on a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz ticket, and Akhtar Hassan Gorchani for Pakistan Peoples Party, among eight others.

The seat had fallen vacant after PTI lawmaker Jaffar Khan Leghari died on December 31, 2022, in Lahore after a prolonged illness.