Multan by-election: Amir Dogar leads as ballot count continues

MULTAN: Amir Dogar is leading in the vote count for by-election for National Assembly constituency NA-149 while his competitor Javed Hashmi has admitted his defeat and congratulated the foremr in advance.

According to unofficial and unconfirmed results from 200 polling stations, Amir Dogar has bagged 38800 votes while veteran politician Javed Hashmi has secured 28536.

Javed Hashmi, who recently parted ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, enjoys a low key support from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz while Mr Dogar is being openly supported by the Imran Khan-led party in Multan.

Experts say the PTI is taking the by-election as do or die fight as Hashmi’s revolt amidst the Islamabad sit-in had dealt a blow to its campaign aimed at overthrowing Nawaz Sharif government in the center.

286 polling stations were set up in the constituency out of which 144 polling had been reserved for men and 142 for women. In order to deal with any untoward incident, Rangers and police had been deployed at 107 stations declared as sensitive.

Only one untoward incident was reporting during voting when two groups clashed at polling station no.132. This station had been designated for female voters.

Groups supporting Javed Hashmi and Amir Dogar clashed over fake votes and polling was stopped.