NA-171 by-polls: PPP celebrates win; PTI rejects result

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party has congratulated Makhdoom Tahir Rasheed for winning NA-171 by-polls in Rahimyar Khan whereas PTI has levelled allegations of rigging by Punjab administration.

PPP Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza while addressing a press conference said the PPP victory was a result of a 'suicide attack' by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on his own party.

He said the people had rejected the traits adopted by PTI in politics. He said NA-171 victory was reflection of people's no-confidence against a specific mindset under which PTI was being run.

To a question, Murtaza stated that power sharing with PMLN was a 'burden sharing' and the Governor Rule was not an appropriate step in a parliamentary system. Syed Ahsen Rizvi, Edwin Sahutra and others were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, former provincial minister and PTI MPA from Rahimyar Khan Ejaz Shafi has termed the PPP victory in NA-171 a result of massive rigging. He said the polling agents of PTI were expelled and counting was done in their absence in nearly 60 polling stations. He said in many polling stations, already signed Form 45 were provided to favour the Pakistan Peoples Party candidate.

He said two PTI MPAs, including Ayaz Bodla and Rana Jahanzaib were locked up and one of them was even shifted to Sukkur. However, he said such tactics could not diminish the popularity of PTI as it was gaining strength day by day. Ejaz Shafi stated PTI would make a striking comeback which would be nothing less than a revolution.