PTI repeats 2018 sweep of K-P

All rival party heads, several heavyweights lost in PTI stronghold

PESHAWAR:

 

In a near-repeat of the 2018 elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has ruled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa twice, appeared headed for a clean-sweep, convincingly trouncing all rivals in both National Assembly and Provincial Assembly constituencies in the general elections held on Thursday, according to unofficial, unverified preliminary results.

The results compiled by contestants based on Form-45, political heavyweights of all rival parties of the PTI, including JUI-F, ANP, PML-N, and PPP, appeared to be losing in both the National Assembly and K-P Assembly constituencies.

Besides, those who parted ways with PTI founder Imran Khan, including the former chief ministers Pervaiz Khattak and Mehmood Khan, who formed a separate political party – the PTI-Parliamentarians – are on course to lose the contest, while those who stood with the PTI are emerging victorious.

In the 2018 general elections, PTI founder Imran Khan had won a National Assembly constituency from Bannu. While all other party heads – Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Shehbaz Sharif, Asfandyar Wali Khan, Aftab Sherpao, Sirajul Haq and Maulana Fazlur Rehman – had lost in the province.

Although the final results are pending compilation, unofficial reports indicate a familiar trend unfolding. Barrister Gauhar Khan, Chairman of PTI, contesting as an independent candidate, appears to be on the path to victory.

While the heads of the PTI’s rival political parties, PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan, JUI-F chief Fazl, and his two sons, QWP chief Sherpao and his son Sikandar, and JI Amir Sirajul Haq were facing defeat.

In initial results, PTI sweeps aside political heavyweights. Among those succumbing to PTI’s electoral dominance is veteran politician Ghulam Ahmed Bilour. While former federal minister Saleem Saifullah emerged victorious, his brother Anwar Saifullah of PPP faced defeat.

PPP K-P President Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha, General Secretary Shuja Khan, Information Secretary Amjad Afridi, ANP Information Secretary Samar Haroon Bilor, JUI General Secretary Maulana Ataul Haq, JI K-P Amir Prof Ibrahim and General Secretary Abdul Wasi and Bakht Jahan are also facing defeat.

Read: Hours after polling, nation awaits final results of elections

Meanwhile, the PTI-backed candidates, who contested as independents because the party had lost the election symbol of ‘bat’ due to intra-party elections controversy – are poised to clinch victory for the second, and even third time.

The expected victorious PTI-backed candidates included former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, K-P Speaker Mushtaq Ghani, former federal ministers Shaheryar Afridi, Ali Muhammad Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur and others.

Similarly, this list is expected to include three grandsons for former president Gen Ayub Khan—Omar Ayub Khan, Akbar Ayub Khan and Arshad Ayub. On the other hand, former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan's one son-in-law Hisham Inamullah and grandson Taimur Saleem Jhagra are on course to victory.

However, Ghulam Ishaq Khan's other son-in-law Anwar Saifullah and granddaughter Samar Haroon Bilour appeared to be losing. But in an interesting bout, Anwar Saifullah’s borther, Salim is expected to avenge his 2013 defeat to Fazl Saleem as he is on way to defeat Fazl’s son Maulana Asjad Mahmood.

The PTI backed, Shandana Gulzar and Mian Umar Jamshed Kakakhel are on course to retain or take back the seats their parents had one held. Shandana’s father Gulzar Khan had won the 2013 general elections from Peshawar on a PTI ticket. Now, Shandana Gulzar is expected to re-take this seat.

Similarly, another PTI-backed independent Mian Jamshed Kakakhel is on course to win in Nowshera. His father Mian Umar Kakakhel’s had won this seat on a PTI ticket in 2013 and 2018 general elections. However, after his death, Mian Umar Kakakhel had lost the by-election to the (PML-N).