Latest news with #PP-52
Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Zardari chastises PPP over Sialkot loss
President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed strong displeasure over the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) defeat in the PP-52 Sialkot (Sambrial) by-election, pulling up senior party officials for underwhelming performance. Zardari aired his concerns during his recent political engagements at the Governor House in Lahore, where he also held meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other key political figures. During his interaction with PPP Punjab's leadership, President Zardari openly rapped party officials for their handling of the by-election campaign in PP-52, expressing concern over the party's continued weak footing in the province. He issued fresh instructions to both central and provincial leadership aimed at rebuilding the party's strength across Punjab. Meanwhile, PPP's Central Punjab Information Secretary Shahzad Saeed Cheema has clarified that there was no discussion regarding the PP-52 Sambrial by-election during President Asif Ali Zardari's recent meeting with party officials in Lahore. He also dismissed reports of Zardari chastising party officials over the by-election defeat, claiming that the party secured more votes than in the previous polls. During a meeting with the family of the late PPP Punjab president Sheikh Rafiq Ahmad, Zardari expressed regret over not appointing the late Sheikh Rafiq as president of Pakistan, saying that had the party made that choice instead of Farooq Leghari, the party might have been spared the crises it later endured, and no one would have dared to betray it from within. Centre-Punjab cooperation In a separate meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the two leaders discussed the growing Pakistan-India tensions and the broader political landscape of the country. According to insiders, they reached an understanding to address the concerns of provinces and coalition partners in the upcoming 202526 federal budget. Sources also revealed that PM Shehbaz commended Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for effectively articulating Pakistan's position on India at international forums, particularly in light of the ongoing regional strain.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PML-N's Hina Arshad Warraich wins PP-52 Sialkot by-election
Listen to article Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Hina Arshad Warraich has secured a decisive victory in the PP-52 Sialkot by-election, winning 78,419 votes, Radio Pakistan reported. Her closest rival, Fakhir Nishat Ghumman, was significantly behind with 40,037 votes, according to unofficial results from all 185 polling stations. PTI has decried alleged rigging. Congratulations to Hina Arshad Warraich. I hope she will carry the legacy of her father and that legacy is helping the people of the constituency. Good luck 🍀 #PMLN — Sunny 🏆🇵🇸 (@Its_SuNnYzzZ_77) June 2, 2025 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif congratulated Warraich on her success, describing the victory as a clear reflection of public trust in the government's policies. Both leaders expressed their gratitude towards the electorate for showing overwhelming support for the ruling party. The by-election, which was closely watched, further strengthens PML-N's position in the Punjab Assembly, with analysts pointing out the magnitude of Warraich's victory as a significant political win for the party. Earlier, she was leading with 78,702 votes in PP-52 Sialkot by-elections, according to unofficial and incomplete results from 165 out of 185 polling stations received in the late hours of Sunday. Hina was fielded as the ruling party's candidate in the by-elections announced after the death of MPA Chaudhry Arshad Warraich, who had won the seat in the Feb 8 general elections on the PML-N's ticket. Hina held a clear lead over candidates from other parties, including the PTI-backed independent candidate Fakhir Nishat Ghumman, who secured 39,018 votes, according to the unofficial tally. Speaking to a private TV channel, Hina said the people did not elect her for politics but for service. "I stand here today because of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz," she stated. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, who also belongs to Sialkot, visited the residence of Hina Warraich. Addressing party workers, he thanked those who participated in the election campaign across Punjab, adding that based on results from 165 polling stations, Hina is securing a decisive victory. "Sialkot was, is, and will remain a stronghold of the PML-N," he said. PTI's Central Secretary for Information, Sheikh Waqas Akram, during a press conference in Islamabad, however, alleged that the by-election in PP-52 Sambrial witnessed "thuggery under police patronage". "The turnout at our rally in Sambrial was unforgettable. People came out early in the morning to protect the mandate, but the PML-N's goons resorted to violence," he claimed. He alleged that under police protection, PTI supporters were forcibly removed from polling stations and subjected to violence. "PML-N forcibly entered polling stations and cast fake votes," he said. PPP Central Punjab President Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also accused the PML-N of resorting to rigging in a press conference held in Sambrial. "The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) must take notice of the rigging in the PP-52 by-election. Our polling agents and workers were attacked in Roliya, Begowal, Mitranwali, and Babundoki Chamiyan. "Local PML-N leadership should not have resorted to such actions this undermines the credibility of the entire electoral process," he added. Elections should be free and fair. Our people were harassed and forced out of polling stations." PPP General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza also claimed that the PML-N cannot contest elections "without siding with the umpires". The 2024 elections, he said, witnessed the worst rigging in history." After the press conference, the ECP issued a statement describing Raja Pervaiz Ashraf's allegations of rigging in PP-52 Sialkot as baseless. It advised PPP leaders to file a formal complaint with solid evidence. "The ECP will address all complaints promptly," it said, adding that the reports about the administration shutting down various polling stations are completely false.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PML-N leads in Sialkot by-elections
PML-N's Hina Arshad Warraich was leading with 78,702 votes in PP-52 Sialkot by-elections, according to unofficial and incomplete results from 165 out of 185 polling stations received in the late hours of Sunday. Hina was fielded as the ruling party's candidate in the by-elections announced after the death of MPA Chaudhry Arshad Warraich who had won the seat in the Feb 8 general elections on the PML-N's ticket. Hina held a clear lead over candidates from other parties including the PTI-backed independent candidate Fakhar Nishat Ghumman, who secured 39,018 votes, according to the unofficial tally. Speaking to a private TV channel, Hina said the people did not elect her for politics but for service. "I stand here today because of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz," she stated. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, who also belongs to Sialkot, visited the residence of Hina Warraich. Addressing party workers, he thanked those who participated in the election campaign across Punjab, adding that based on results from 165 polling stations, Hina is securing a decisive victory. "Sialkot was, is, and will remain a stronghold of the PML-N," he said. PTI's Central Secretary for Information Sheikh Waqas Akram, during a press conference in Islamabad, however, alleged that the by-election in PP-52 Sambrial witnessed "thuggery under police patronage". "The turnout at our rally in Sambrial was unforgettable. People came out early in the morning to protect the mandate, but the PML-N's goons resorted to violence," he claimed. He alleged that under police protection, PTI supporters were forcibly removed from polling stations and subjected to violence. "PML-N forcibly entered polling stations and cast fake votes," he said. PPP Central Punjab President Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also accused the PML-N of resorting to rigging in a press conference held in Sambrial. "The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) must take notice of the rigging in the PP-52 by-election. Our polling agents and workers were attacked in Roliya, Begowal, Mitranwali, and Babundoki Chamiyan. "Local PML-N leadership should not have resorted to such actionsthis undermines the credibility of the entire electoral process," he added. "Elections should be free and fair. Our people were harassed and forced out of polling stations." PPP General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza also claimed that the PML-N cannot contest elections "without siding with the umpires". The 2024 elections, he said, witnessed the worst rigging in history." After the press conference, the ECP issued a statement describing Raja Pervaiz Ashraf's allegations of rigging in PP-52 Sialkot as baseless. It advised PPP leaders to file a formal complaint with solid evidence. "The ECP will address all complaints promptly," it said, adding that the reports about the administration shutting down various polling stations are completely false.
