Awais Leghari wins NA-172 Election 2011

ISLAMABAD - The much awaited by-polls in National Assembly’s constituency NA-172 Dera Ghazi Khan-II finally went in favour of Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) candidate Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari who had outclassed his two powerful rivals with a wide margin, according to unofficial reports.
Till late night on Tuesday, the vote counting in the 226 polling stations of the total 260 stations indicated that the PML-Q contestant had grabbed 62355 votes followed by Hafiz Abdul Karim of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) with 41589 votes and Sardar Shabbir Leghari from Pakistan People’s party who got 17254. The unconfirmed results from the remaining 34 polling stations also indicated that Awais Leghari was leading the tables with over20755 votes.
The results of NA-172 DG Khan by-polls suggest that this is the third time a govt candidate has met defeat at the hands of Opposition party candidates. A few days back, the JUI-F candidate Ghulam Qadir Bhittani had defeated Dawar Khan Kundi, the joint contestant of PPP and ANP in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s by-polls held in PK-69 Tank. Earlier in January, the joint candidate of both these parties Diyar Khan met the same fate after being defeated by Muhammad Rashid of PML-Q in KP Assembly’s by-polls held in PK-87 Shangla. Despite that the Federal and Punjab governments used their all out influence to grab the NA-172 seat that fell vacant after the death of Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, father of Awais Legahri, it was reportedly due to the effective measures adopted by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that the by-polls were generally held transparently.

Election NA-172 in DGK Today

District Returning Officer Akhtar Zaman Chaudhry said talking to media here on Monday. He said 260 polling stations and 636 polling booths had been set up in the constituency where 1,522 officials would perform their duties. He said 1,800 police personnel had been deputed to hold peaceful election

NA-172 by-election

DERA GHAZI KHAN: The recent visits of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Governor Sardar Latif Ahmed Khosa have not disappointed the masses but also PPP workers who were expecting a mega development package ahead of the by-election scheduled for March 24.
The visits exposed the long-awaited claims of the PPP local office-bearers and demoralised the election campaign, paving the way for a one-to-one contest between the PML-N and PML-Q candidates.
Sardar Shabbir Ahmed Khan Leghari of the PPP, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari of the PML-Q and Hafiz Abdul Kareem of the PML-N are in the race for the by-election to NA-172, which was vacated after the death of former president Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari. Earlier, the by-election scheduled for December 14 was postponed due to Muharram. Later, a revised schedule was announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan the day when Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani visited the city first time since he took the charge of his office.
It was claimed by PPP candidate Sardar Shabbir Ahmed Khan Leghari that President Asif Ali Zardari had assured him that Sui gas would be provided to Choti Zirin and Kot Chutta besides extension in the existing network of roads and electricity in the remote tribal areas.
The issues were highlighted by PPP workers to muster support for their candidates in the coming by-election. However, the visits failed in achieving the objectives. PPP workers told The News that both visits had disappointed them as they had pinned high hopes with them. The situation also disturbed the PPP candidate and PPP district president when their entry was not allowed at the helipad for receiving the prime minister.

DERA GHAZI KHAN ELECTION NA 172

DERA GHAZI KHAN: The candidates of two mainstream political parties are facing a tough time due to poor response from the masses in the by-election to NA-172, a constituency vacated following the death of former president Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari.
The PML-Q has awarded the ticket to Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari (bicycle), former federal minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, while Sardar Shabbir Ahmed Khan Leghari (arrow) and Hafiz Abdul Kareem (lion) are representing the PPP and the PML-N respectively. The elections are scheduled for March 24 while the polling scheme has also been announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Although certain other factors are also involved, but both big parties are taking least interest in canvassing for their candidates. Both candidates are canvassing with their own resources while supporters are playing the role of a silent spectator. It is being observed that influential families are supporting the PML-Q candidate not on political grounds, but due to their old affiliation with the Leghari Group.
Political analysts believe that the PPP would secure low votes as compared to the 2008 general elections due to poor representation in the area. “The situation was entirely different at that time due to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto that motivated the general voters with development of the soft corner. During the PPP’s three-year term, the federal government has completely ignored the district. Moreover, the PPP contestant cannot motivate the high command and the political leadership of the party to visit the constituency and address the public gathering so far.”
There is another concept that though the PPP candidate is not being considered a winning horse, but his candidature is indirectly favouring PML-Q candidate Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari who is a close relative of PPP’s candidate Shabbir Leghari. PPP workers will never vote for Awais as his father Farooq Ahmed Leghari had dismissed the PPP government on various charges. Votes will be divided, giving an edge to Sardar Awais Khan Leghari.

As far as the PML-N contestant is concerned, he had earlier contested first time against Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari in 2008 at the time when the PML-N failed to field a solid, experienced and influential contestant. However, he had given a tough time to his high-profile rival that was really unexpected even to the PML-N.

Political pundits are of the view that the by-election is the real test for the PML-N and the PPP. The city that comprises over 50 per cent area of the constituency is presenting a deserted look after all the roads have been cut for the construction. The new water supply and sewerage lines are being laid but owing to mismanagement and poor planning of the bureaucracy and the ruling PML-N, all development activities have been started simultaneously while no project could so far be completed during three years.
During the recent rainy spell that persisted for around two weeks, there was mud everywhere in the city and life came to a standstill. The deep ditches dug out for the sewerage lines, debris, choked sewerage and water pipes are seen everywhere. Deadlines and extended deadlines claimed by the DCO and the commissioner just proved to be a bureaucratic tactic to normalise the situation and satisfy the residents who are facing problems due to incomplete uplift schemes.
The pundits say that the Leghari Group is in a better position while the PML-N candidate seems to be in a strong position in urban areas. Voters are of the view that an unannounced compromise exists between both tribal feudal lords and they are supporting each other. As many as 15 candidates are in the race after JUI candidate Maulana Muhammad Iqbal Rasheed announced support for the PML-Q candidate.