PS-52: Lost Umerkot by-polls because of Prime Minister Imran Khan, says GDA leader Arbab Rahim

• GDA's Arbab Rahim holds Prime Minister Imran Khan responsible for defeat at PS-52 Umerkot by-polls
• The Grand Democratic Alliance leader asked PM Khan why he is nominating party candidates for elections when he cannot protect party workers
• He said the Centre had become "toothless" before the provincial government

SUKKUR: Former chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim believes he lost the by-polls of the PS52 seat in Umerkot because of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The Grand Democratic Alliance leader asked PM Khan why he is nominating party candidates for elections when he cannot protect party workers.

He said the domain of the federal government is so large, but it was the first time he saw the Centre had become "toothless" before the provincial government, The News reported Monday. 

Read more: PS-52: PPP candidate Ameer Ali Shah wins Umerkot by-polls

Rahim said he has been associated with the PTI for the last 30 months, but it has been ignoring him.

Even the Sindh governor has not been listening to their grievances, Rahim said, adding that if PTI doesn't change its attitude towards its allies, they would likely say ‘goodbye’ to the federal government.

Last week, Rahim had said the Umerkot by-polls were rigged and people were bribed on the election night.

He lamented that his party holds no hope from the appeal in the election tribunal.

Umerkot by-polls

The by-polls on the PS-52 seat, which fell vacant after the demise of PPP MPA Syed Ali Mardan Shah, were held on January 18.

PPP’s Ameer Ali Shah emerged victorious in the by-polls for Umerkot’s PS-52 seat, according to the unofficial and unverified results.

Unofficial results of 128 polling stations showed that Shah secured over 58,968 votes against GDA’s Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who bagged nearly 30,832 votes.

Read more: GDA leader Arbab Rahim alleges Umerkot by-polls were rigged

The polling process started under the supervision of the police and Rangers, however, some incidents of minor clashes were reported and polling was suspended for some time, but again resumed.

Over 50 polling stations were among the most sensitive, which were monitored by Rangers.

The commission said a total of 153,935 voters, 83,127 males, and 70,808 females, were registered to cast votes across 128 polling stations.