PAT hammered in maiden poll run as Independent candidate wins PP-48 by-elections

DARYA KHAN: Pakistan Awami Tehreek�s (PAT) maiden run in polls fell flat after it was hammered in PP-48 Bhakkar by-elections on Saturday.

Punjab assembly seat PP-48 had fallen vacant after PML-N�s Najeebullah Khan Niazi passed away earlier. Niazi was also a cousin of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan.

On Saturday, the PML-N backed independent candidate Inamullah Khan Niazi won by-elections after securing 47,593 votes.

Niazi, who is Najeebullah�s elder brother, only narrowly secured victory. Independent candidate Ahmed Nawaz Nawani lost with 47,013 votes.

However, PAT�s first foray in to electoral politics was far less spectacular. The party�s candidate, Nazar Abbas, was bottom with just 13,582 votes. The defeat is particularly heavy for PAT whose chief Dr Tahirul Qadri had spearheaded Abbas� election campaign in the constituency.

Pakistan Peoples Party had boycotted elections in the constituency.