PTI wins Kashmir seat in Lahore

LAHORE

Pakistan Muslim League-N has suffered a serious setback on Thursday from LA-37, an Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly seat falling in Lahore from where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf stalwart emerged victorious while defeating the Nawaz League candidate with a comprehensive margin.

Diwan Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, the PTI candidate from LA-37, Valley II seat whose seven out of total eight polling stations were set up in Lahore, won the AJK polls while bagging around 1,700 votes against PML-N’s Ghulam Abbas Mir, who could bag around 900 votes.

Omar Sharif Bokhari, the PPP candidate could get around 100 votes, according to unofficial results.

Immigrants from Kashmir possessing the State Subject Certificate were authorised to cast their votes in the AJK polls.

The polling in the seven polling stations of Lahore remained peaceful and uninterrupted amid vociferous sloganeering from PTI and PML-N camp. Foolproof security measures were taken to ensure transparency in the elections and armed troops, police personnel were deployed in big numbers in and outside the polling stations.

Polling stations in Lahore were set up in the areas of Shad Bagh, Misri Shah, Delhi Gate, Mochi Gate, Qila Lachman Singh, Islampura and Gulberg whereas one was established in Sheikhupura.The PTI supporters gathered in large numbers at Kashmir Hall, Nakhuda Chowk, Misri Shah, the main office of Diwan Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din to celebrate his victory. They danced to drum beat and distributed sweets while chanting the slogans.

The winning candidate, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din joined PTI in 2015 had won this seat for the fourth time as he remained winner in 1996, 2001, 2006 polls as well. PTI is his third party as he has previously contested elections on PPP and People's Muslim League ticket.

“I am thankful to Allah Almighty for this victory, this victory is the defeat of a mindset which has always deceived Kashmiris but done no service to them, I will continue to plead the case of Kashmir at every forum, I am thankful to all voters, supporters and my leadership for showing confidence in me” said Diwan Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, while talking to The News after his victory.

The defeat has come as a serious setback for PML-N as it has exposed the lapses in its organisations and lack of coordination among the workers. Out of the total seven polling stations set up in Lahore, five fell in NA-119, the constituency of Hamza Shahbaz, one in the constituency of Prime Minister, NA-120 and one in NA-126.

This is noteworthy that PML-N hasn’t been able to win the seat which falls in its base camp, and its defeat in 2016 polls, while it is a ruling party in Punjab and centre has seriously exposed lapses in its organisations.

Different supporters of the PML-N while talking to The News expressed disappointment over the results and viewed that party should have come up with a good result this time but it seemed there was no proper coordination or work to woo the voters which were not very big in numbers as compared to the general elections.

Ghulam Abbas Mir, the PML-N candidate and the runner-up from this seat; however, stated that if there were lapses, they would be overcome in future. He thanked his voters and supporters for their working besides vowing to remain a strong advocate of Kashmir freedom movement under the banner of PML-N.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and central leadership of party has congratulated Diwan Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, the PTI candidate over his victory in LA-37, AJK seat which falls in Lahore.

Diwan has defeated PML-N candidate Ghulam Abbas Mir whereas the PPP candidate had to face confiscation of security bonds from this seat.

In the felicitation message, Imran Khan and other leaders thanked the Kashmiri voters for showing trust in the PTI candidate and expressed the resolve to stand by the Kashmiri brethren in their struggle for liberation.