Stats show that the candidates of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and its allies have won their seats in by-polls with a bigger margin than in general elections in Lahore and Kasur.

It is not a new thing that PML-N and its allies have won in Lahore and Kasur because they have retained the seats which they had left.

But the lead they got against their runners-up is bigger than the lead its previous winners had got in general elections is really a thing for their leaders and workers to relish, particularly in the scenario where their political opponents are taking out countrywide rallies on the topic that their mandate was stolen in general elections.

Let’s have a look on fasts

In NA-119 Lahore-III, Maryam Nawaz won with the lead of 15,479 in general elections whereas in by-polls PML-N candidate Ali Pervaiz Malik defeated his rival Shehzad Farooq with the margin 26, 889.

NA-132 Kasur-II Shehbaz Sharif had defeated his rival Sardar Muhammad Hussain Dogar in general elections with the lead of 26,115 and in by-elections PML-N candidate Malik Rasheed Ahmad defeated his rival Muhammad Hussain Dogar with the lead of 55,869.

In PP-147, Hamza Shehbaz Sharif of PML-N defeated PTI-backed candidate Muhammad Khan Madani with the lead of 5,339 in by-elections and PML-N candidate Malik Riaz defeated his rival Muhammad Khan Madani in by-polls with the lead of 15,293.

In PP-149, Aleem Khan of IPP defeated his rival PTI-backed candidate Zeeshan Rasheed with the margin of 3,758 in general elections and in by-elections IPP candidate Shoaib Siddiqui defeated his opponent SIC candidate Zeeshan Rasheed with the lead of 21,522.

In PP-64, Shehbaz Sharif of PML-N defeated his opponent PTI-backed candidate Muhammad Yousaf with the margin of 1,180 in general elections whereas PLM-N candidate Rashid Minhas defeated his SIC candidate Muhammad Yousaf with the margin of 5,718 votes in by-polls.

PP-158 is the only constituency in by-polls where the winning margin of PML-N candidate is a bit less. In this constituency, in general elections PML-N Shehbaz Sharif had defeated his rival PTI-backed candidate Yousaf Ali with a margin of 14,795, but in by-polls PML-N candidate Muhammad Nawaz defeated SIC candidate Moonis Elahi with the margin of 12,147 votes.

PML-N leadership links this victory to their economic policies, especially to the initiatives taken by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz such as Ramazan Nigehban Package and reduction in roti and naan prices.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a statement had said PML-N got landslide victory in by-polls due to the vibrant economic policies of the government.

PML-N leader Atta Tarar had said people have rejected PTI’s politics of ‘confrontation’ and trusted the government and acknowledged its people-friendly steps.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz taking to social media congratulated the party workers and said PML-N is the true representative of the people of Pakistan.

She said the result of by-polls has rejected the PTI claims that the elections were rigged.

On the other hand, Sunni Itehad Council (SIC), a merger of PIT, could not garner public support in by-polls as its candidates had in general elections.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived at the Allama Iqbal International Airport from Islamabad here on Tuesday morning.  

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz welcomed the Iranian president as he touched down at Lahore airport. Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari was also present.  

Provincial ministers Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Chaudhry Shafey Hussain, Bilal Yasin, the chief secretary and IG Punjab were also in attendance. A smartly turned out contingent of Punjab Rangers presented guard of honour to President Raisi. 

City roads have been decorated with welcome banners and hoardings on arrival of Iranian President. President Raisi, after landing in Lahore, went straight to Mazar-e-Iqbal and laid floral wreath on the grave of Poet of the East Allama Muhammad Iqbal. 

Lauds Pakistan’s stance on Gaza 

The Iranian president lauded Pakistan’s support for Gaza and its people amid relentless atrocities by Israel. 

He said Allama Iqbal showed a new path to the Muslims the world over. As for Gaza war, he said the supreme leader was of firm opinion that the people of Palestine would emerge victorious in the fight and Israel would face defeat. 

He said he was thoroughly enjoying his visit to Pakistan and he was feeling at home. He said he wanted to address the people of Pakistan.   

During his visit to Lahore, the Iranian president will also visit Minar-e-Pakistan, Badshahi Masjid and Lahore Fort. A lunch will be organised by the chief minister in honour of the Iranian president at the Governor House. 

The foreign dignitary will leave for Karachi after meeting Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman. He will be received by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah upon reaching Karachi. Raisi will go to Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi and later meet business community.

Local holiday 

Provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh have declared local holidays in Lahore and Karachi on the occasion of Iranian president’s visit to both capital cities. 

According to the administration’s notification, public and private schools, colleges and universities will remain closed today. Public and private offices will also remain closed on the occasion.

Dr Jamileh-Sadat Alamolhoda, wife of the Iranian President, on Monday said that Islam had enlightened the whole world by highlighting important of knowledge 1400 years ago.

“Knowledge without ethics has no value,” she made the remarks her address at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML).

Earlier, Dr Jamileh inaugurated a cultural festival at the university. She took round of various national and international stalls showcasing different cultures and their traditions.

Rector NUML Major General (retd) Shahid Mahmood Kayani, Director General Brig Shahzad Munir, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Addressing the students, Dr Jamileh said that during the colonial era, religious leaders of Iran and this part of the region played a significant role in keeping the nations united.

She admired the role of Poet of the East Muhammad Iqbal in spreading the Islamic message of knowledge and ethics through his poetry.

She also spoke at the launch of her own book “The Art of Living Femininely”, which, she said, was being translated into Urdu as well.

She praised NUML’s role in knowledge production and dissemination and also desired to explore the possibilities of mutual academic collaboration in the field of science and technology and languages.

Dr Jamileh thanked the NUML administration for a warm welcome and on providing her an opportunity to interact with the students and faculty.

Speaking on the occasion, the Rector NUML said that Pakistan and Iran enjoyed historic, brotherly, and mutually trusted bilateral relations, and they also had deep-rooted people-to-people ties.

The honourable guest was conferred on an honorary PhD degree in educational sciences by the NUML Rector.