PESHAWAR
Stirring a new political controversy, as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) withheld final results of Peshawar mayorship election due to incomplete polling over some of the polling stations.
According to the ECP handout the results of all polling stations except six polling stations have been received to the office of the Returning Officer. “The announcement of the Peshawar City Council has been withheld as polling was remaining suspended in six polling stations,” said ECP.
According to unofficial results, JUI-F candidate Zubair Ali has secured 62,388 votes, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate Rizwan Bangash obtained 50659 votes, Awami National Party (ANP) Sheer Rehman bagged 49596 votes and Pakistan People Party (PPP) candidate Arbab Zarak polled 45958 votes.
Additionally, 13 other candidates were also in the running for the slot of Peshawar mayorship.
The notification issued by the ECP late in evening has generated a debate and controversy among the political parties contesting for the slot.
It is pertinent to mention here that JUI-F workers and party members celebrated the victory of its candidate but the ECP announced that results are incomplete and withheld.
However, results of the polling stations suggest that PTI is losing ground and JUI-F leading for the coveted post of Peshawar mayor.
Following the LG polls results in the KP, PTI ministers accepted the ground realities and conceded its defeat in the province.
Talking with media, Minister for Culture and Labour, Shaukat Yousafzai said that inflation reduced the vote of PTI in KP, adding that its government is working hard to control rising prices of essential commodities.
He said that the opposition has no reason to blame the incumbent government as no reports of rigging surfaced during the local government in the 17 districts.
Moreover, the Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz has said that after the recent results the PTI would opt for another strategy in the upcoming elections in KP.
Talking to media in Peshawar on Monday, Shibli claimed the PTI played well and results were satisfactory in most districts. PTI could not manage to activate and mobilize its voters and party workers, he added.
