ISLAMABAD: The unofficial results of the Cantonment Board elections have revealed Prime Minister Imran Khan was the only national leader in Pakistan, a minister said Monday, as the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf emerged as the biggest winner defeating the hot favourite Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in a closely contested competition.
A total of 1,513 candidates ran on Sunday for 206 general seats in as many wards of 39 cantonment boards nationwide.
While there are 219 wards in 42 countrywide boards, voting was not held in any of the nine wards of Kamra, Cherat and Murree Gallies cantonments where either the candidates were elected unopposed or polling was postponed for a variety of reasons.
According to Radio Pakistan, the ruling party secured 58 seats while the PML-N nabbed 51. Independent candidates surged to the third position claiming 49 wards.
While, on the other hand, the Pakistan Peoples Party could manage only 14 seats, followed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan with 10, Jamaat-e-Islami with five and Balochistan Awami Party with two seats.
The results have “once again show PTI not only as the largest” political party of Pakistan “but also the only national party,” Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar tweeted.
Cantonment elections once again show PTI not only as the largest party but also the only national party. Pti won either highest or second highest seats in every province. PMLN 0 in balochistan, 5th in sind. PPP 0 in punjab & balochistan, 3rd in kp. PMIK only national leader
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) September 13, 2021
Prime Minister Imran is the “only national leader”, he added.
RESULTS DEMONSTRATE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN PML-N: SHEHBAZ
Meanwhile, the president of PML-N, Shehbaz Sharif, insisted that the results showed the confidence the public posed in his party.
The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly assured the people his party will not disappoint them and strive harder to resolve their issues.
Whereas, Maryam Nawaz, the vice president of the party, declared that it was unprecedented that “despite being a target of the government”, PML-N did exceptionally well in the election.
The PTI never contested any election on its electoral strength but relied solely on scrounged support.
BREAKDOWN OF CANDIDATES:
A total of 1,513 candidates ran for 206 seats in as many wards. Though all major political parties fielded their candidates, a close contest among the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party was seen.
878 candidates competed for 112 wards of 19 cantonments in Punjab, 418 in 53 wards of eight cantonments in Sindh, 170 in 33 wards of nine cantonments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 47 in eight wards of three cantonments in Balochistan.
PTI fielded over 170 candidates in all four provinces, followed by 140 of the PML-N, 112 of the PPP and 105 candidates of the Jamaat-e-Islami.
Both Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and the Pak Sarzameen Party fielded 41 and 33 candidates, respectively, in Karachi and Hyderabad.
