LODHRAN, Pakistan: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faced a huge embarrassment when its Candidate Ali Khan Tareen lost the NA-154 Lodhran-I by-election against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Pir Muhammad Iqbal Shah on Monday, prompting the Chairman Imran Khan to review his political decisions prior to 2018 general elections.
The PTI’s Ali Khan Tareen took 85,933 votes; however, the PML-N’s Muhammad Iqbal Shah secured 113,542 votes, steering himself to the National Assembly as a replacement of disqualified Jahangir Khan Tareen – father of Ali Tareen.
Thank you Lodhran for your trust in the leadership of PMLN… It’s your victory… And we will continue to serve you… Congratulations to all the PMLN workers and our victorious candidate Iqbal Shah sb.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 12, 2018
It is worth mention here that the NA-154 seat fell vacant after the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified the PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen on December 15, 2017 under article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.
For all Insafians who are feeling dejected after NA154 result, every setback is an opportunity to analyse one’s mistakes, correct them & come back stronger. Successful people, institutions & nations learn from their failures.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 12, 2018
Those who get demoralised can never achieve their potential. In my decades of political struggle for Insaf I have never been demoralised but have come back stronger after confronting adversities. The 2018 election is ours inshaAllah. https://t.co/bwtQA90IWQ
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 12, 2018
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) yet again seemed almost completely vanished from Punjab as its Candidate Mirza Muhammad Ali Baig just bagged over 3,000 votes.
In NA-154 Lodhran by-election, the voters turn out remained 52.10 percent. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had set up a total of 388 polling stations and 1,043 polling booths for by-poll.
Foolproof security arrangements including the deployment of army personnel were made in NA-154 Lodhran-I Constituency for holding free and fair by-election.