The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) retained NA-247 and PS-111 seats but lost Pk-71 seat after Sunday by-elections in the three constituencies
In NA-247, PTI’s Aftab Siddiqui was leading with 31,366 votes and MQM-P’s Sadiq Iftikhar was following him with 13,544 votes, according to unofficial results received till the filing of the story.
PPP’s Qaisar Khan Nizamani secured 8,654 votes.
In PS-111, PTI’s Shehzad Qureshi was leading with 10,761 votes, while PPP’s Muhammad Fayyaz Pirzada was in second place with 4,497 votes.
Twelve candidates contested for the NA-247 seat while 11 were in the run for PS-111 seat.
The NA-247 seat was vacated by Dr Arif Alvi after being elected as the president of Pakistan, while PS-111 was vacated by PTI’s Imran Ismail after becoming the Sindh governor.
Overall the polling process in Karachi remained peaceful but turnout remained low. President Dr Arif Alvi polled his ballot along with his spouse in Defence Phase-7 DA Model School and Governor Sindh Imran Ismail polled his vote along with his wife at Polling Station DHA Girls College Phase-8. Speaking to media on the occasion, the president requested the public to come out and vote. Responding to a question, he said everyone knew why the inflation had risen in the past 15 days.
In PK-71, unofficial results from all 86 polling stations showed Awami National Party’s Salahuddin clinched victory with 11,257 votes followed by PTI’s Zulfiqar Khan, who secured 9,854 votes. The seat had fallen vacant after Shah Farman was appointed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor.
Zulfiqar Khan, Salahuddin, and independent candidates Dildar Khan, Abdul Karim Khan, and Fazal-e-Haq Kohi Damani were contesting on the seat.
Published in Daily Times, October 22nd 2018.
