PML-N concedes defeat in crucial Punjab by-elections

• "PML-N should accept results of by-polls with an open heart and concede to the decision of masses," Maryam Nawaz tweets.
• PML-N’s senior leader Malik Mohammad Ahmed Khan also acceptes PTI received a “landslide victory”.
• "This is a difficult situation for us [PML-N] as we have lost elections in Punjab," he adds.

PML-N conceded defeat Sunday in the crucial Punjab by-elections after the PTI took the lead in the majority of the 20 provincial assembly constituencies which were up for grabs.

As the unofficial results started pouring in, showing the PTI in the lead, the party's vice president Maryam Nawaz took to Twitter and said that the defeat should be accepted with an open heart.

"The PML-N should accept the results of the by-polls with an open heart and concede to the decision of the masses," Maryam wrote. 

She added that winning and losing were part of politics, therefore, the party should now focus on its weaknesses, identify them, and then overcome them. 

"God willing, everything will be fine," she said.

Similarly, speaking to Geo News, PML-N’s senior leader Malik Mohammad Ahmed Khan also accepted that PTI had received a “landslide victory” in the hotly-contested Punjab by-polls. 

“I accept that PTI has won and the party wholeheartedly accepts the opinion of the public," he said.

He further added that everybody can get into the debate of how and what happened, but “apparently the situation right now shows that PTI has won the elections; therefore, we congratulate them and accept our defeat.”

'Snap-elections'

Replying to a question regarding PML-N’s strategy for the election for the position of Chief Minister Punjab, scheduled to be held on July 22, Khan said: “I spoke to Hamza Shahbaz and he was of the view that people have expressed their choice, so we need to acknowledge it."

“Last time the situation was different as there were divisions among the party but this time, it is all about the public and now we will assess where we went wrong,” he said, adding he considered these by-polls as snap-elections.

Lamenting that the party lost three major seats in Lahore, he said that now there was no reason for the party to stick to their electioneering campaign.

'Difficult situation'

“This is a difficult situation for us [PML-N] as we have lost elections in Punjab, where we've always had a stronghold, and our government in federal is a coalition setup with thin numbers,” he maintained.

Khan further added that when parties consider public opinion, then power becomes secondary and people’s choice becomes the top priority.

Replying to a question regarding the chances of early elections, he accepted that the results show PML-N has lost the hold of Punjab, while for the federal government, he refrained from commenting as decisions are taken after consultations from all coalition parties.

“The government of Punjab will now inevitably be formed by the PTI,” he said, adding that all political parties should now strengthen their positions.

The MP stated that the party plans go into the next elections under a coordinated strategy, citing the inclusion of PTI dissidents into the party as one of the major reasons behind our defeat.

'Congratulations to PTI'

Taking to Twitter, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah congratulated the PTI for its victory and said that the government ensured a transparent election.

"Alhamdulillah, there was no complaint of rigging or improper use of power by the administration in Punjab," he said. 

The minister added: "Today, we have guarded the sanctity of public opinion. In the 2018 elections too, these seats were not held by PLMN and PTI and independent candidates were elected."

Election results 'must be welcomed'

Senior politician Farhatullah Babar — who belongs to the PML-N's allied party, PPP — said that the results of the elections should be welcomed, as there was seemingly no interference.

"As long as there aren’t midnight calls from no caller ID, as long as there’s no elephant in the tent breathing down the necks of tent dwellers & as long as people speak freely in any election, the results of that election must be welcomed no matter who wins."

'Sher will bounce back'

PML-N leader Hina Parvez Butt said that the "sher (lion)" will bounce back.

The PML-N leader also congratulated PTI and its leadership on their victory.