Rift within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), slow pace of development coupled with strong local support accounted for Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) defeating PTI on its home ground in PK-08 Peshawar by-election on Thursday. Background discussions with several PTI members of the provincial assembly and locals revealed that the selection of PML-N candidate Arbab Wasim, who belongs to the well-known Arbab family of Peshawar, was a major factor in the party retaining the seat left vacant following the demise of the candidate's uncle.
Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, provincial PTI leader told Business Recorder that sympathy vote, internal differences within PTI and absence of a provincial party president were major factors behind the unexpected defeat of PTI candidate in PK-08 by-poll. The main factor due to which PML-N raced ahead in the by-polls, he said, was that the party's candidate got sympathy votes as the seat had been vacated after the demise of PML-N MPA Arbab Akbar Hayat.
Another reason, Yousafzai pointed out was that there were differences among the local leadership of PTI following mismanagement at the recent PTI public gathering in Peshawar addressed by Imran Khan. "A number of senior local leaders as well as district councillors were not given due importance during the PTI public gathering due to which they did not play any active role in the election campaign as well as on the election day to mobilise the voters", he said.
He said that due to internal differences the PTI voters either stayed at home or voted against PTI. The PTI MPA further said that another reason for the unexpected defeat of PTI candidate was absence of provincial president and organisational set up as it was dissolved to hold new intra-party elections which have been postponed following the Panama Leaks.
Yousafzai further contended that some party leaders had serious reservation over the award of the ticket to Shehzad Khan. "All these factors put together resulted in an unexpected defeat for the PTI candidate", he added. When contacted, provincial spokesperson of PML-N Arsalan Hoti, termed his party's victory a wakeup call for its opponents especially PTI and argued that the PTI should focus on serving the people instead of levelling "baseless" allegations.
Hoti however acknowledged that the candidate got sympathy votes but added that this was the constituency of sitting PML-N Governor KP, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and he has worked hard for the province. According to unofficial and unconfirmed results PML-N candidate Arbab Wasim bagged 11,797 votes, followed by PPP Malik Tehmash Khan with 10,789 votes to his credit. The PTI candidate Shehzad Khan won 7,807 votes.
Soon after the victory announcement in the by-polls, Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, tweeted, "Nothing better than beating the opponents (read conspirators) on their home ground." Political analyst from Peshawar Arif Khan pointed out that although PTI is actively working on introducing reforms in police, revenue, education and health sectors, the provincial government is yet to launch some mega development projects. Contrary to PTI leadership, Advisor to Prime Minister Amir Muqam recently visited the area and launched roads and electricity projects. The seat was vacated after the death of PML-N candidate Arbab Waseem Hayat's father-in-law Arbab Akbar Hayat, who had started development projects and people were apparently happy with him, he added.