According to unofficial results, it appears that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) is on the losing side in KPK local government elections. Interestingly, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) and Awami National Party (ANP) showed a strong performance.
While the final tally is yet to take place, unofficial results show JUI-F in lead over PTI, despite the latter’s stronghold in KPK since 2013. For the Peshawar mayoral slot, JUI-F candidate Zubair Ali won with more than 32,275 votes while the PTI’s Rizwan Bangash trailed behind by securing 26,695 votes.
PTI has lost Mayor Peshawar Election, Official from PTI's control room in Peshawar, JUIF has won Officially!! #KPKElection #
— Hassan Munir (@hassanmunir39) December 20, 2021
Additionally, JUI-F won the Kohat Mayorship seat by securing 33,991 votes while ANP won the Mayor seat from Mardan. For Bannu’s Wazir Tehsil Chairman Seat, JUI-F emerged victorious again by securing 3200 votes. JUI-F also won seats for District Mardan’s Takht Bai Tehsil, Katlang Tehsil, and Rustam Tehsil.
https://twitter.com/HasanRazaLhr/status/1472828108088741888?s=20
Read more: Why JUI-F wants a vote recount in NA-45 Kurram constituency
ANP on the other hand, bagged victory in Razar Tehsil of Swabi with candidate Ghulam Haqqani receiving 22,743 votes while PTI candidate Buland Iqbal secured 13,023 votes. ANP also won the Nowshera Tehsil Pibi Chairman seat by securing 27,530 votes.
As for PTI, the party won the Bannu Tehsil Kaki and DI Khan Tehsil Kalachi chairman seats. PTI candidate is also leading in Buner’s Mandand Tehsil. PTI has managed to win four out of six tehsils of Buner district.
All in all, the situation for PTI is alarming as the Opposition is bagging the most seats in KPK elections. According to public opinion, PTI lost due to the weak performance of MNAs and MPAs. As a result, KPK’s population moved towards other political parties.
Pti all Mna and mpa are just active in media they are not performing in their respective cities and area if this happens till 2023 then miracle can do something for pti win @ImranKhanPTI @PTIKPOfficial#KPKElection
— Zahoor2001🇵🇰 (@Zahoor2011) December 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/farq_k/status/1472826519949131781?s=20
Violence mars KPK polls
During the first phase of KPK polls, reports emerged of violent clashes. Workers and supporters of political parties confronted each other and alleged rigging and change of votes in different male and female polling stations in Peshawar and elsewhere in the district and rest of KPK.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) even postponed the local body elections in KPK’s Tehsil Baka Khel due to poor law and order situation, including the abduction of police, polling personnel, and snatching at the polls.
Moreover, in Bajaur’s Mamund tehsil, a suicide attack on a vehicle taking voters to a polling station left two ANP workers dead and five others wounded. Also, ECP postponed Dera Ismail Khan’s elections after ANP’s candidate Mohammad Umar Khattab was shot dead on Saturday.
Read more: Interior Ministry takes action against JUI-F’s uniformed militia?