MULTAN - Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Wednesday emerged as leading party in Multan district with senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi leading the way by winning on both national and provincial assembly seats.
As the preliminary unofficial results continued to pour in from different constituencies of the district, PTI candidates are leading the polls in four national assembly seats NA-154, NA-155, 156 and 157 while PML-N is in lead at two constituencies NA-158 and NA-159.
The polling took place in peaceful environment and no big incident took place in entire district except a couple of tiny brawls. The counting of votes was underway in all constituencies till filing of this report.
A total of 68 candidates were in the run for six national assembly seats and 165 for 13 provincial assembly seats in Multan district. The ECP had set up a total of 1817 polling stations across the district for 2556140 eligible voters. The PML-N and PTI candidates were face to face in all six national assembly constituencies while PPP’s candidates were missing from NA-155, 156 and 159.
NA-156 Multan-111
To much delight of PTI, party’s vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi won NA-156 battle by a margin of 19000 votes, according to unofficial results. According to initial unofficial results Qureshi secured 93497 votes while PML-N’s Amir Saed Ansari got 73529. Qureshi also won provincial assembly seat from PP-217 constituency. Another PTI candidate, Javed Ansari won the election form PP-215.
The constituency is consisted of urban areas of Multan and the election commission had set up 312 polling stations for 444724 registered voters. Out of total 13 candidates, four were independents while rest of nine have been fielded by PML (N), PTI, Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan, Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek, All Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan Awami Raj, Pakistan Kissan Ittehad, Mustaqbil Pakistan and MMA.
NA-154 Multan-1
The unofficial results indicated that the election run in this constituency was being led by former federal minister and independent candidate Haji Sikandar Hayat Bosan. About 30 per cent of total results have so far been received and PTI’s Ahmad Hassan Dehar is closely following him. PPP’s Abdul Qadir Gillani stands third in the run while PML (N) candidate Salman Qureshi was fourth.
A total of 13 candidates including the ones fielded by Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan, All Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan Saraiki Party were in the run from this constituency. The ECP had set up a total of 287 polling stations for 385233 eligible voters in this constituency. Previously this constituency was known as NA-151 and it is consisted of both rural and urban areas of Multan.
NA-155 Multan-11
Despite facing inner demons like direct opposition from party’s city and district presidents, PTI’s candidate Malik Aamir Dogar won election in this constituency. He grabbed 88,567 votes while his rival PML-N’s Tariq Rashid obtained 71,456 votes.
The election commission had set up a total of 360 polling stations in the constituency for 485,810 registered voters. A total of 14 candidates were in the run including the ones fielded by PML-N, PTI, All Pakistan Muslim League, Sunni Tehreek, Pak Sarzameen Party, Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek, Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan, Mustaqbil Pakistan and Tehreek Labbaik Islam.
NA-157 Multan-IV
PTI vice chairman Shah Mahmood’s son and PTI candidate Makhdoomzada Zain Qureshi was leading the polls in this constituency followed by PPP candidate Ali Moosa Gillani, son of former premier Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani. The unofficial results received so far indicated that Zain Qureshi has secured 50150 votes while Ali Moosa Gillani 45583.
As many as eight candidates were in the run for this constituency out of which four were independent and as many fielded by political parties. Besides PML (N), PPP and PTI, Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan has also fielded its candidate from this constituency. The ECP had set up 260 polling stations for 390725 voters of this constituency.
NA-158 Multan-V
Former federal minister and PML (N) candidate Javed Ali Shah was in leading position followed by PTI’s Ibrahim Khan. Former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani was running third.
The unofficial results received so far disclosed that Javed Ali Shah was ahead with 26415 votes, followed by Ibrahim Khan of PTI with 20582 votes.
A total of seven candidates were in the run from this constituency out of which three were independent and one each from PML (N), PPP, PTI and Pakistan Saraiki Party. The ECP had set up 298 polling stations for 436391 voters.
NA-159 Multan-VI
The unofficial result received from this constituency indicated that the PML (N) candidate Dewan Zulqarnain Bokhari was leading the run with 14400 votes. He was followed by PTI candidate Rana Qasim Noon, who had so far secured 11133 votes. A total of 14 candidates were in the run from this constituency out of which 10 were independent. This constituency is consisted of 36 union councils of Jalalpur Pirwala and Shujabad. The Election Commission had set up 300 polling stations for 413257 voters in this constituency.
MUHAMMAD IRTAZA