PPP candidate succeeded in by-polls with an overwhelming majority

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA, Dec 23: Tahir Mahmood Khan candidate of Pakistan People’s Party succeeded with an overwhelming majority in by-election on PB-I Quetta on Wednesday.

The seat was fallen vacant due to murder of PPP leader and provincial education minister Shafiq Ahmad Khan.

One to one contest was held between Tahir Mehmood Khan, brother of slain minister Shafiq Ahmed Khan and candidate of Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Professor Amanullah Shadezai.

Majority of voters of the constituency belong to PML and PPP. Besides both groups of PML Pashtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party, PML-N, PML-Q, JUI-F, MQM, Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) and Khilji Qaumi Ittehad had announced their support to PPP candidate.

While Amanullah Shahdazai was supported by Jamhoori Watan Party, Tahreek-e- Insaaf and JUI (Ideological).

According to unofficial results PPP candidate Tahir Mahmood secured 6357 and won the seat while his sole opponent Amanullah Shahdazai obtained only 387 votes.

Despite withdrawal from election JWP candidate Muhammad Azim Butt obtained 33 votes and candidate of JUI ( Ideological) Muhammad Din Bittani begged 20 votes.

54 polling stations and 137 polling booths were established in the constituency by authorities of Election Commission.

Polling started at 8: 00 am and continued till 5:00 pm without any break while district government had declared a public holiday in connection with by-election.

According to Election Commission sources total 6883 votes were polled. 66 votes were declared invalid. The turn out remained 10. 58 per cent.

The provincial government had made strict security arrangements for the election and a heavy contingent of police, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Constabulary was deployed at all polling stations.

Talking to newsmen, Tahir Mahmood thanked the people for expressing their confidence in him. He vowed that he would complete the mission of his slain brother Shafiq Ahmed Khan.