PML-N wins NA-55 by-polls: Returning Officer
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Muslim League-N candidate Malik Shakil Awan won the by-elections held in NA-55 constituency of Rawalpindi with 63,888 votes caste to his name on Wednesday, according to official results.
The Returning Officer Tariq Kazmi has announced the result of by-polls held in National Assemblys constituency NA-55.
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He said total 22 candidates representing different political parties were in battleground but PML-Ns Malik Shakil Awan managed to get over 50 percent of the total votes, winning decisively by-polls while his closest opponent was AMLs Sheikh Rashid Ahmed who got over 42,000 votes.
Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid in a press conference Wednesday night leveled rigging charges against Punjab government but said he would not lodge his complaint with the Election Commission of Pakistan. Election Commission is helpless before Punjab government, he said
The unofficial results continue to pour in. According to unofficial results of 221 polling stations, Shakil Awan has secured a decisive lead of 73,766 votes against Sheikh Rashid who has bagged 46,022 votes in todays by-polls.
Addressing PML-N workers outside the partys election office, Malik Shakil Awan said Rawalpindi is the city of PML-N loyalists who, he said, made the opponents an example for learning a lesson from.
The total number of registered voters is 333,928 in NA-55 where 250 polling stations were set up.
Following the announcement of unofficial results, PML-N workers came out on streets and started dancing amid slogans in support of their party to celebrate the win.
Earlier, Vote count started following the completion of polling for by-election in NA-55 constituency here amid cries of foul play by Chief of Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid.
Shakil Awan was in lead right from announcement of the initial results (unofficial). His lead against Sheikh Rashid grew more and more as results continued to pour in.
During the day a couple of incidents of scuffle were reported. However, the overall law and order situation remained satisfactory.
Pakistan Muslim League-N in reaction to Sheikh Rashids allegations of rigging said the latter is raising hue and cry as a way of face saving in view of his defeat in sight.
Early morning rain in the city affected the polling arrangements but later voters starting coming out as the sky got cleared of clouds. The turnout grew with time and picked momentum towards the end of polling hours.
The overall situation remained peaceful throughout the polling except for a few separate incidents of fights reported during the day.
Blaming the state machinery for alleged rigging, Sheikh Rashid said PML-N may go ahead and do whatever it wants, he will prove himself a tough competitor.
Meanwhile, Jamat-e-Islam candidate Dr. Kamal expressed satisfaction on the election process and advised Sheikh Rashid to come forward with evidence of the alleged rigging.
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