Independent candidate Riaz ul-Haq grabs Okara's NA-144 seat
The winning participant Riaz ul Haq Juj secured 83,240 votes.
OKARA (Dunya News) – An independent candidate Riaz ul Haq Juj according to unofficial and inconclusive results came out victorious in Okara-II in NA-144 on Sunday.
The winning participant Riaz ul Haq Juj secured 83,240 votes whereas Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML-N) candidate Ali Arif Chaudhary stood second with 41,050 votes. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Ashraf Sohna has bagged 7049 votes and came last while Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Chaudhry Sajjad-ul-Haq also faced defeat. Another independent runner earned 11563 votes.
Riazul Haq was supposed to contest on PML-N’s ticket however, he chose to register himself as an independent candidate after Ali Arif was given the ticket instead.
The seat went vacant as PML-N’s Arif Chaudhry was disqualified by an election tribunal in fake degree scam after which re-election was announced in the constituency. Ashraf Sohna who earlier said bye to PPP and joined PTI to test his fate was also thrashed in NA-144 by-election.
There were nearly 316,000 registered voters in Okara.
As many as 25 polling stations were declared sensitive out of the 210 total in the constituency. Security arrangements were ensured by officials of district government as Pakistan Army, Rangers and police personnel were deployed at each polling station while CCTV cameras were also installed.
During polling, bride-to-be and groom-to-be reached polling stations to cast their votes before attending their respective marriage ceremonies. While talking to Dunya News, the bride said that every citizen must cast vote and exercise democratic right. It is pertinent to mention here that the bride went to a polling station which was declared sensitive in the NA-144 by-election.
The supporters of Riaz were also seen enjoying the moment and celebrating the victory while distributing sweets and setting off fireworks.
