The Pakistani Spectator

In 2008, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed got some 15000 votes, while the Aamir Fida Paracha of Pakistan People Party got away with 35000 votes. Javed Hashmi of PML-N won by taking some 76000 votes.

Then in next by election in this same constituency, Sheikh Rashid was nowhere and Haji Pervaiz of PML-N won by taking just 25000 votes, and the voter turnout was all time low.

In this election, the results are similar as of the 2008. PML-N have got the same number of votes, they got previously.  They have retained their vote bank. They have maintained their moral high ground. They have been endorsed by the people of Rawalpindi.

A very interesting and very valid observation is that if you put the results of 2008 election in perspective, and add up 15000 votes of Sheikh Rashid and 35000 votes of Aamir Fida Paracha, you get equal number of votes as Sheikh Rashid has got now, when there is no PPP candidate.

In this election, Sheikh Rashid was supported by PPP, PML-Q, JUI-F, JUI-P, Tehrik Jafaria and some other small time players. Jamat e Islami was also there to cut the votes of PML-N, and Tehrik Insaf also got some peanuts.

Clearly in this election, PML-N has defeated PPP, PML-Q, JUI-F and Sheikh Rashid and that shows the maturity of the voters. It’s effects will be far reaching.