PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the centre, is facing defeat in the KP local body elections.
According to unofficial and unconfirmed results, PTI lost the mayor elections in Peshawar, Bannu, Kohat and Mardan.
Zubair Ali of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) won the mayoral post with 24,080 votes, while his opponent Rizwan Bangash of PTI came second with 21,048 votes.
JUI-F was also successful in the election of city mayor in Bannu. According to unconfirmed and unofficial results, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) candidate Irfanullah got more than 37,000 votes. Iqbal Jadoon of PTI remained second with 24,000 votes.
Similarly, the candidate of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) become victorious in the election of city mayor in Kohat. According to unconfirmed and unofficial results, JUI-F’s Sher Zaman came first with 19,000 votes while independent candidate Shafiullah came second with 18,000 votes.
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In Mardan, Awami National Party candidate Hamitaullah won the seat with more than 27,000 votes. Amanat Shah of JUI got 18,000 votes to come second. Final results have not yet been announced.
The unofficial results also show that the opposition parties have a combined lead over the ruling PTI for the post of mayor/chairman of the 63 tehsil councils.
According to the unofficial results from 30 tehsils, the JUI-F is leading with 13 seats, followed by the ruling PTI (6), PML-N (3), Awami National Party (3), Jamaat-i-Islami (1) and PPP (1). Meanwhile, independent candidates have secured three seats.
Polling postponed in three Tehsils
The polling process in three tehsils — located in Swabi, Bannu and Darra Adam Khel — was postponed on Sunday due to disturbances, including a suicide blast in Bajaur, abduction of polling staff in Bannu, a clash in Karak and a mob attack on Minister Shibli Faraz’s vehicle in Kohat.
