ISLAMABAD: Thursday’s by-election of NA 249, Karachi has created doubts about credibility of 2018 general elections.
In 2018 general elections, Pakistan Tehreek – e – Insaf (PTI) chief and prime minister, Imran Khan, had contested election from this constituency and won by getting popular vote. Again PTI candidate Faisal Wawda, won by- election of this constituency in the by-election held in 2018.
However, PTI fell flat in Thursday’s by – election. Pakistan People Party (PPP) candidate, Abdul Qadir Mandokhel, won the seat by getting 16156 votes. Mifta Ismael, stood runner up with 15473 votes. Mufti Nazir Ahmad of banned Tehreek Labaik Pakistan (TLP) stood third in contest by bagging 11125 votes.
The ruling PTI got humiliating defeat in the contest. Its candidate , Amjad Khan Afridi, was not even considered a serious candidate in the contest. He remained 5th in the race by getting only 8455 votes.
Pak Surzamin Party (PSP) chief, Mustafa Kamal, too could not keep his claims of only leader of Karachi intact. He lost the contest. He was 4th in the race. Similiarly, Mutihida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM) too remain negligible . Its candidate did not get sizable votes. He stood the last among the contesting candidates.
Thursday’s result of by- election in NA 249 has raised many questions. It exposed PTI by all means as it’s the only looser of the contest.
This by-election also exposed to the Election Commission which seemed totally in effective in doing its duty of ensuring tumely announcement of the result.
