Khanewal   -  Lack of teamwork, an unorganized campaign and inflation were the main factors behind PTI candidate Noureen Nishat Khan Daha’s defeat in PP-206 Khanewal by-election.

According to unofficial results, the PML-N candidate bagged 47,649 votes while PTI candidate Noreen Nishat Daha secured 34,030 votes. Other than these, Pakistan People’s Party candidate Mir Wasiq came third with 15,059 votes and Sheikh Akmal of TLP got 9,619 votes.

The PP-206 (Khanewal) seat had fallen vacant after the death of PML-N MPA Nishat Ahmed Khan Daha .Nishat Ahmed Khan Daha was elected as member provincial assembly in 2018 General Elections on PML-N ticket. He joined the forward bloc and was leading the forward bloc in the provincial assembly. He openly criticised the PML-N leadership.

Politics of Khanewal revolves around Hiraj and Daha families. 

Ahmed Yar Hiraj (Incharge Prime Minister’s Inspection Team) and his brother MPA Hamid Yar Hiraj (Ex-Chairman ERA and Ex-Federal Minister) were leading the Hiraj group. 

While Haji Irfan Khan Daha (Ex-provincial minister) was leading the Daha group. His son Muhammad Khan Daha is MNA from NA-151. 

He had secured victory in 2013 and in 2018 General Elections. He lost the seat of MNA in 2008 elections by a very narrow margin to Hamid Yar Hiraj. Haji Irfan Khan Daha remained loyal to PML-N in all elections. Nishat Khan Daha won all 2008, 2013 and 2018 elections. Deceased Nishat Khan Daha was contesting the election on the ticket of PPP but he joined the Daha group. Due to seat adjustment PML-N was not contesting so Daha group and PML-N supported Nishat Khan and he was elected as MPA. Rana Muhammad Saleem could not win 2013 and 2018 elections. Rana Saleem was the candidate of MPA on the ticket of PTI in 2018 elections but when the deceased Nishat Khan Daha joined the forward bloc Rana Saleem joined PML-N and Daha group.

In this by-election there were many candidates vying for the ticket of PTI but the PTI’s leadership decided in favor of Noreen Nishat Khan Daha (widow of Nishat Khan). The group of Nishat Khan was in support of Masood Majeed Khan Daha (Nephew of Nishat Khan).

 This decision created a rift between family as well as within the party. PML-N awarded its ticket to Rana Muhammad Saleem. Haji Irfan Khan Daha and all the party workers of PML-N remained loyal to their ticket holder and secured victory.

Federal Minister Fakhar Imam and provincial minister Hussain Jahanian Gerdaizi were sent to support Noreen Nishat in her campaign but had no impact on the voters of this constituency because they were elected from Kabirwala. Hiraj brothers tried their best but they were not in touch with their voters and supporters for last three years. Noreen Nishat was a housewife so she didn’t organise her campaign well. Another reason of her defeat was that all the big guns of the party were working on their own individual performance rather than working as a team while PML-N workers and leaders were like a unit.

The polling day remained peaceful. The voter turnout was outstanding and 48.85 percent of the voters exercised their right to vote. This turnout shows that citizens of this constituency showed their anger against the government by casting their vote. Inflation made the life difficult for the PTI’s candidate and she lost the seat.

People’s Party gained a lot in this election. Mir Wasiq was the PPP PPP candidate in general elections. PPP had bagged 6,700 votes in general elections but in December 16 by-election PPP secured 15,059 votes. In this election, PPP leadership and workers worked very hard to mobilise their old voters and supporters. Tochi Khan came from Vehari district to organize PPP’s election campaign and remained in the field till polling day.